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Home > Forums > Nuclear Engineers > Activities > Nuclear engineering Forum

Thorium Power(2)

Read More Threads Like This One

BAretired (Structural)

21 Feb 12 12:32

I came across this video today. At a casual glance, it appears to be simpler, safer and more economical than conventional nuclear power. I am completely out of my area of expertise here, but can someone tell me why this is not being used more commonly in the world today? Here is the link:

http://www.ted.com/talks/kirk_sorensen_thorium_an_alternative_nuclear_fuel.html

(2) electricpete (Electrical)

21 Feb 12 21:18

More info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_fluoride_thorium_reactor

=====================================
(2B)+(2B)' ?

vpl (Nuclear)

22 Feb 12 9:03

It's not being used in the US because it's a breeder reactor and the US doesn't allow reprocessing.

Not saying that's good or bad -- that depends on which side of the nuclear argument people want to vehemently take.

Patricia Lougheed

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BAretired (Structural)

22 Feb 12 12:05

Citing a portion of the link by electricpete,

Quote:
Disadvantages

    The proposed salt mixture FLiBe, contains large amounts of beryllium, a poisonous element. The salt in the primary and secondary cooling loops must be isolated from workers and the environment to protect them from beryllium poisoning.
    FLiBe also has lithium salts, which can be psychoactive drugs. These also must be isolated from workers and the environment.
    Hot fluoride salts naturally produce hydrofluoric acid in contact with water. When cool, fluoride salts are nearly insoluble in water. Although HF generation would be taken into consideration in the reactor's design and shutdown/decommission processes, this hazard needs to be addressed in emergency situations that damage all five levels of the reactor's containment while the salt is hot.
    As with any nuclear reactor, there are the expected needs to contain the radioactive core, which is dangerous to life and health.
    There is also a need to manage the waste, which is still very radioactive, even though it is hazardous for a shorter period.

Notwithstanding the hazards mentioned, this technology is being used to some extent in India. It may be an old technology which deserves a fresh look.

cloa (Petroleum)

25 Feb 12 2:01

Not used at all in India- they are doing solid thorium (probably oxide) fuels which need to be a supplement to uranium oxide fuels. Thorium oxide offers little advantages compared to uranium oxide.
China is way into Liquid Thorium Fueled Reactor development.

cloa (Petroleum)

25 Feb 12 18:21

Inform yourself about the nuclear options that were explored and differences between them and the nature of Thorium useage.
Barely mentioned is the two fluid thorium test reactors developed in the US- I don't see the reference to first one.

http://www.world-nuclear.com/info/inf08.html

http://www.world-nuclear.com/info/inf77.html

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