[ RadSafe ] Article on Wired on Thorium reactors

[Franta, Jaroslav]

The specific reply to Marco's comment is this :

<quote>
Intrinsic proliferation-Resistance of 232Th-233U and burning plutonium in
fast neutron reactor in 'once-through cycle'
<snip>
Th-based fuels and fuel cycles have intrinsic proliferation resistance due
to the formation of 232U via (n,2n) reactions with 232Th, 233Pa and 233U.
The half-life of 232U is only 73.6 years and the daughter products have very
short half-life and some like 212Bi and 208Tl emit strong gamma radiations:
0.7-1.8 MeV and 2.6 MeV respectively. 
Hence, 232U could be utilized as an intrinsic proliferation-resistant
barrier for diversion of highly enriched uranium (HEU) and weapons grade
plutonium (W-Pu) for nonpeaceful purposes. 
For incineration of WPu or civilian Pu in fast reactors utilizing
'oncethrough' cycle, (Th, Pu)O2 fuel is a better option, as compared to (U,
Pu)O2 [15]. In thoria matrix fuel, plutonium is not bred, instead 232U is
formed in the spent fuel which ensures proliferation-resistance because of
the high gamma radiation associated with the daughter products. In addition,
these fuels could be directly disposed in permanent repositories taking
advantage of the high chemical stability of and inertness ThO2.
<end quote>

......from
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PubDetails.asp?pubId=7192
Thorium Fuel Cycle - Potential Benefits and Challenges
IAEA-TECDOC-1450, 2500, ISBN 92-0-103405-9, English. 15.00 Euro  Full Text,
(File Size: 1900 KB). 
http://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/TE_1450_web.pdf


Jaro 
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^



-----Original Message-----
From: Franz Schönhofer [mailto:franz.schoenhofer at chello.at]
Sent: Thursday July 07, 2005 2:49 PM
To: 'Marco Caceci'; radsafe at radlab.nl
Subject: AW: [ RadSafe ] Article on Wired on Thorium reactors

<SNIP>
I wonder, what the opinion of the RADSAFE community is. Most of all I
believe that there are collegues out there, who might know much better than
I do....




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