Use of Thorium in Light Water Reactors

Todosow, M.; Galperin, A.; Herring, Stephen; Kazimi, Mujid S.; Downar, Thomas J.; Morozov, A. G.

doi:10.13182/nt151-168

Cited by 43 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…In light of these advantages, the use of thorium has been considered in different reactor concepts, such as light-water reactors (LWRs), 3 heavy-water reactors (HWRs), 4 hightemperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGRs), 5 and molten salt reactors (MSRs). 6 In the latter one, fluoride salts are generally employed using ThF 4 , the subject of this study, as one of the components.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isobaric Heat Capacity of Solid and Liquid Thorium Tetrafluoride

et al. 2019

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The isobaric heat capacity of solid and liquid thorium tetrafluoride was determined by two calorimetry methods: drop calorimetry to obtain the enthalpy increments in the range from 430 to 1600 K and DSC to obtain the hightemperature heat capacity of solid and liquid thorium tetrafluoride using the step method. Adjustments to the experimental setups were developed and implemented to increase accuracy and reduce uncertainty of the obtained data.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Isobaric Heat Capacity of Solid and Liquid Thorium Tetrafluoride

et al. 2019

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“…During the first nuclear era, questions that led organizations in the nuclear industry, such as Argonne National Laboratory [19], Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) [20,21] (now Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, CNL), Babcock and Wilcox [22], Oak Ridge National Laboratory [23][24][25][26], Ontario Hydro [27], and Savannah River National Laboratory (Du Pont) [28][29][30][31] to study thorium fuel cycles were primarily: (i) whether there were sufficient uranium resources to ensure the long-term viability of a nuclear power program [32]; and (ii) whether "advanced nuclear fuel cycles improve the economic competitiveness of nuclear power, particularly in the event uranium becomes increasingly expensive" [32]. These primary supply questions led to a series of other economic-related questions [33][34][35]. For example, if Canada's uranium resources were depleted, how would Canada replace its exports of uranium to avoid an unfavorable trade balance?…”

Section: Primary Economic Motivations For Thorium Fuel Cyclesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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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“…The thorium fuel cycle also does not result in significant formation of long‐lived, highly toxic transuranics that are inevitably formed in the uranium fuel cycle. In fact, the thorium fuel cycle is capable of destroying these transuranics using existing thermal reactors, where the uranium fuel cycle must utilize fast reactors to achieve similar net actinide destruction …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In fact, the thorium fuel cycle is capable of destroying these transuranics using existing thermal reactors, where the uranium fuel cycle must utilize fast reactors to achieve similar net actinide destruction. [1][2][3][4] Nitride fuels such as thorium mononitride (ThN) are intriguing options when compared to oxide fuels due to their substantially higher actinide density (11.17 g Th/cm 3 vs. 8.80 g Th/cm 3 for ThN and ThO 2 , respectively) obtained without the reduction in melt point that is suffered if metallic thorium is considered. Perhaps most importantly, previous investigations have suggested that ThN has a thermal conductivity in the range 35-50 WÁ(mÁK) À15-7 at temperatures relevant to nuclear reactor systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fabrication of ThN Using a Carbothermic Reduction to Nitridation Process

2016

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A carbothermic reduction to nitridation process was developed which is capable of producing high‐purity thorium mononitride (ThN) in bulk quantities. This was accomplished through study of three distinct processing routes using thermogravimetric analysis. The information gathered was then used to guide development of a draft process, which was tested within a tungsten production furnace. Scaling issues were identified and corrected following the draft process. Finally, a partitioned process was developed in response to the draft process which separates the reduction from the nitridation and carbon cleanup steps. This partitioned process was demonstrated to be capable of producing phase‐pure ThN, with oxygen and carbon impurities of 990 ± 130 wppm and 240 ± 30 wppm, respectively.

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Use of Thorium in Light Water Reactors

Cited by 43 publications

References 5 publications

Isobaric Heat Capacity of Solid and Liquid Thorium Tetrafluoride

Isobaric Heat Capacity of Solid and Liquid Thorium Tetrafluoride

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

Fabrication of ThN Using a Carbothermic Reduction to Nitridation Process

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