Use of Thorium in Light Water Reactors
- Brookhaven National Laboratory (United States)
- Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (Israel)
- Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (United States)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (United States)
- Purdue University (United States)
- Russian Research Centre-Kurchatov Institute (Russian Federation)
Thorium-based fuels can be used to reduce concerns related to the proliferation potential and waste disposal of the conventional light water reactor (LWR) uranium fuel cycle. The main sources of proliferation potential and radiotoxicity are the plutonium and higher actinides generated during the burnup of standard LWR fuel. A significant reduction in the quantity and quality of the generated Pu can be achieved by replacing the {sup 238}U fertile component of conventional low-enriched uranium fuel by {sup 232}Th. Thorium can also be used as a way to manage the growth of plutonium stockpiles by burning plutonium, or achieving a net-zero transuranic production, sustainable recycle scenario. This paper summarizes some of the results of recent studies of the performance of thorium-based fuels.It is concluded that the use of heterogeneous U-Th fuel provides higher neutronic potential than a homogeneous fuel. However, in the former case, the uranium portion of the fuel operates at a higher power density, and care is needed to meet the thermal margins and address the higher-burnup implications. In macroheterogeneous designs, the U-Th fuel can yield reduced spent-fuel volume, toxicity, and decay heat. The main advantage of Pu-Th oxide over mixed oxide is better void reactivity behavior even for undermoderated designs, and increased burnup of Pu.
- OSTI ID:
- 20840292
- Journal Information:
- Nuclear Technology, Vol. 151, Issue 2; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2006 American Nuclear Society (ANS), United States, All rights reserved. http://epubs.ans.org/; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0029-5450
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Minor actinide transmutation in thorium and uranium matrices in heavy water moderated reactors
Performance of Thorium-Based Mixed-Oxide Fuels for the Consumption of Plutonium in Current and Advanced Reactors