[ RadSafe ] Thorium reactors

[Franta, Jaroslav]

UNRESTRICTED | ILLIMITÉ

True, but this would require quite a lot of modification, to end up with a system that ONLY uses thorium as input (ie. a system called a "break-even breeder" or "isobreeder").
To get that started, it would require "seed fissile" in the form of ~60%-enriched uranium -- which is well over the internationally accepted limit of 20% enrichment for civilian plants.
Moreover, lots of extra fuel would need to be handled, because a large fraction needs to be buffered outside the core, to let Pa233 decay to U233 (avoiding the useless Pa234 that would result if left in the core).
And of course there would be loads of chemical reprocessing required - followed by re-fabrication of the solid fuel: steps that are avoided with liquid fluoride fuel.

Jaro
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-----Original Message-----
From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu [mailto:radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of FISHER Spencer -NUCLEAR
Sent: February 4, 2011 2:58 PM
To: radsafe at agni.phys.iit.edu
Subject: [ RadSafe ] Thorium reactors

Please do not forget that CANDU reactors can use thorium fuel instead of natural uranium.  

Spencer Fisher







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