A Canadian Perspective on Progress in Thoria Fuel Science and Technology

Floyd, M.; Bromley, Blair P.; Pencer, Jeremy

doi:10.12943/cnr.2016.00016

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…Moreover, the current AHWR design focuses on the loading pattern of the fuel cluster using homogeneous (Th‐U) and (Th‐Pu) fuel 42 . In Canada, thorium fuel development for the Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactors is more geared towards fabricating thoria‐based fuels using gel‐sol method and plutonium as fuel driver 43 . Another “duplex” fuel developed by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) is the thoria fuel pellet fabricated through the addition of fissile component using impregnation method.…”

Section: Thorium‐fueled Reactormentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the microheterogeneous thoria‐urania fuel for micro‐sized high temperature reactors

2020

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Summary This paper presents a systematic review of the micro‐modular thorium‐fueled high temperature reactors (HTR) loaded with duplex fuel pellet design. Specifically, each unique criterion of the design is discussed separately in an attempt to understand the combined advantages of the proposed reactor. Micro modular HTRs have great potential as a source of electricity or industrial heat in the future. The use of thorium not only improves its economic performance and safety, but also prolongs its operation. Nevertheless, the traditional seed‐and‐blanket configuration would not be able to maximize the thorium fuel burnup. As such, a new tristructural‐isotopic (TRISO) fuel based on duplex pellet designs were proposed instead. It should be noted that these duplex pellets were not practical for pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology due to its uneven power distribution which possibly leads to a very high local pellet temperature. However, this unorthodox inherent characteristics of the duplex pellets may actually suit the HTR burnup profile better due to its substantially higher thermal margin ‐ thus possibly enabling a relatively long operation of the HTR. The paper shall thereby provide a reasonably sound justification for the detailed technical investigations of the proposed reactor design.

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Section: Thorium‐fueled Reactormentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the microheterogeneous thoria‐urania fuel for micro‐sized high temperature reactors

2020

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“…Section 5 identifies the economic issues associated with Canada's progress in deploying thorium fuel cycles. Section 6 discusses some of the recent progress, challenges, and opportunities emerging in Canada and the rest of the world that are relevant to advancing thorium programs-such as Canadian Nuclear Laboratories' program outlined in Floyd et al [16]. Section 7 provides a conclusion and recommendation to overcome economic obstacles and build on successes.…”

Section: Cnl Nuclear Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition to reprocessing and fabrication, uranium enrichment was considered to add a cost to implementing a thorium fuel cycle and was an obstacle to both long-term and near-term implementation of thorium-based fuels [27]. Despite the accumulated experience with fabrication, reprocessing and enrichment facilities [3,16,[133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141], the corresponding fuel cycle activities posed economic challenges.…”

Section: Refabrication and Reprocessing Costsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The purpose of this section is to identify some of the progress, gaps, and opportunities in implementing thorium that are relevant to Canada since the end of the first nuclear era . Some of the recent progress and opportunities stem from CNL's Thoria Roadmap Project, which began in 2011 [16]. The aim of this project was to identify and address gaps in 11 science and technology areas [16]: (i) thoria supply, (ii) fabrication technology, (iii) irradiation testing and postirradiation examination, (iv) materials properties characterization, (v) modelling thoria fuel behaviour, (vi) fuel safety (including defected thoria fuel behaviour), (vii) reactor physics, (viii) radiation protection and dosimetry, (ix) waste management, (x) reprocessing, and (xi) nonproliferation (safeguards).…”

Section: Recent Progress Challenges and Opportunities To Address Ecmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Canadian Perspective of the Economic Issues Associated With Deploying Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles and Breeding in Heavy-Water Reactors

España

Bromley

2019

CNL Nuclear Review

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To meet future global needs for energy and green technology, it is prudent to identify energy sources and technology that may potentially be economically beneficial. Thorium-based fuels with nuclear technology, such as the Canadian heavy-water reactor, have been proposed as a way to meet those global needs, though economic challenges persist in deploying thorium-based fuels. Therefore, economic strategies to overcome the economic challenges in deploying thorium-based fuels are needed. To identify potential strategies for advancing the deployment of thorium-based fuels, this paper conducts a historical examination of the economics of thorium fuel cycles to identify economic factors that can influence a country’s development of thorium-based fuel cycles. In particular, this paper reviews the economic issues associated with Canada’s experience in deploying thorium-based fuel cycles. The study finds that the existence of natural resources and the associated price, a nuclear fuel cycle’s costs, a country’s international trade balance position and economic growth policies, the profitability of the electrical power and nuclear industry, and the technical and economical characteristics of the nuclear reactor developed in a country may all influence the adoption of a thorium-based fuel cycle. Furthermore, recent advancements in developing thorium-based fuel cycles are suggested as a possible way of bridging the technical and economic gap between near-term and long-term implementation of thorium-based fuel cycles that may overcome current economic challenges.

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“…It is anticipated that thorium (Th) will play a significant role in the world's future nuclear energy. To this end, thoria-based fuels are being considered for use in different reactor designs [1,2]. In particular, a thoria-plutonia (ThO 2 -PuO 2 ) mixed oxide has been selected as the reference fuel for the Canadian super-critical water reactor concept [3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CHARACTERIZATION OF PLUTONIUM DISTRIBUTION IN THO₂–PUO₂ MIXED OXIDES BY ELECTRON PROBE MICROANALYSIS

et al. 2018

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Thoria–plutonia (ThO2–PuO2) pellets with a nominal composition of 9.0 wt% PuO2 were prepared using a fabrication route similar to an industrial process for production of urania–plutonia (UO2–PuO2) mixed oxide fuel. The green fuel pellets were separated into 2 batches and the sintering of each batch was carried out under a reducing atmosphere at 1820 °C or 1750 °C. The distribution of plutonium (Pu) in the sintered pellets was investigated by electron probe microanalysis using X-ray mapping and quantitative point analyses. The results show that the pellet samples consist of Pu-rich agglomerates with Pu content close to that of the mastermix blend and a thorium (Th)-rich matrix. The matrix and the Pu-rich agglomerates are separated by a transition zone with Pu content varying from practically nil to the Pu content of the Pu-rich agglomerates. X-ray maps taken from random regions of the centre of the pellets show different sizes of Pu-rich agglomerates irregularly dispersed in the Th-rich matrix. Image analysis of the Pu X-ray maps indicate that the average diameter of the Pu-rich agglomerates of the material sintered at 1820 °C and 1750 °C were 68 μm and 161 μm, respectively.

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A Canadian Perspective on Progress in Thoria Fuel Science and Technology

Cited by 14 publications

References 37 publications

Review of the microheterogeneous thoria‐urania fuel for micro‐sized high temperature reactors

Review of the microheterogeneous thoria‐urania fuel for micro‐sized high temperature reactors

A Canadian Perspective of the Economic Issues Associated With Deploying Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles and Breeding in Heavy-Water Reactors

CHARACTERIZATION OF PLUTONIUM DISTRIBUTION IN THO₂–PUO₂ MIXED OXIDES BY ELECTRON PROBE MICROANALYSIS

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A Canadian Perspective on Progress in Thoria Fuel Science and Technology

Cited by 14 publications

References 37 publications

Review of the microheterogeneous thoria‐urania fuel for micro‐sized high temperature reactors

Review of the microheterogeneous thoria‐urania fuel for micro‐sized high temperature reactors

A Canadian Perspective of the Economic Issues Associated With Deploying Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles and Breeding in Heavy-Water Reactors

CHARACTERIZATION OF PLUTONIUM DISTRIBUTION IN THO2–PUO2 MIXED OXIDES BY ELECTRON PROBE MICROANALYSIS

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About

CHARACTERIZATION OF PLUTONIUM DISTRIBUTION IN THO₂–PUO₂ MIXED OXIDES BY ELECTRON PROBE MICROANALYSIS