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ID: 123729

Abundant thorium as an alternative nuclear fuel: important waste disposal and weapon proliferation advantages / Schaffer, Marvin Baker

Schaffer, Marvin Baker	Journal Article
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2013.

Summary/Abstract

It has long been known that thorium-232 is a fertile radioactive material that can produce energy in nuclear reactors for conversion to electricity. Thorium-232 is well suited to a variety of reactor types including molten fluoride salt designs, heavy water CANDU configurations, and helium-cooled TRISO-fueled systems. Among contentious commercial nuclear power issues are the questions of what to do with long-lived radioactive waste and how to minimize weapon proliferation dangers. The substitution of thorium for uranium as fuel in nuclear reactors has significant potential for minimizing both problems. Thorium is three times more abundant in nature than uranium. Whereas uranium has to be imported, there is enough thorium in the United States alone to provide adequate grid power for many centuries. A well-designed thorium reactor could produce electricity less expensively than a next-generation coal-fired plant or a current-generation uranium-fueled nuclear reactor. Importantly, thorium reactors produce substantially less long-lived radioactive waste than uranium reactors. Thorium-fueled reactors with molten salt configurations and very high temperature thorium-based TRISO-fueled reactors are both recommended for priority Generation IV funding in the 2030 time frame.

Key Words

Non-proliferation ; Nuclear Energy ; nuclear fuel ; Thorium ; Nuclear waste reduction

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ID: 032949

Atomic energy review: thorium: physico-chemical properties of its compound and alloys / International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

1975

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)	Book
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Publication	Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency, 1975.
Description	241pPaperback

Key Words

Nuclear Energy ; Atomic Energy ; Thorium

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Accession#	Call#	Current Location	Status	Policy	Location
016672	546.4225/INT 016672	Main	On Shelf	General

ID: 149950

Middle-term thorium strategy for PWR fleets / Martin, G; Girieud, R

Martin, G	Journal Article
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Summary/Abstract

Thorium constitutes a natural resource alternative to uranium to fuel nuclear fission power plants. This study explores an original way to benefit from thorium with pressurized water reactors (PWR). It relies on a versatile reactor EPR™ core concept which well circumscribes thorium fuel reprocessing and re-fabrication Fleets representative of what can be deployed at the scale of a small country were simulated using the scenario software COSI6. The cornerstone of this study is here the possibility to multi-recycle plutonium into Pu/Th fuel as plutonium degradation is softened by mixing it with high-grade fissile matters. Plutonium content inside Pu/Th fuel remains then far below the limit existing in PWR for safety reasons. This synergistic effect between U/Pu and U/Th cycles enables a better valorization of fissile elements present in spent fuels.

Key Words

Nuclear Energy ; Thorium ; LWR

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