skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Safety analysis of B and W Standard PWR using thorium-based fuels

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5081441· OSTI ID:5081441

A study was performed to assess the safety and licenseability of the Babcock and Wilcox standard 205-fuel assembly PWR when it is fueled with three types of thoria-based fuels denatured (/sup 233/U//sup 238/U-Th)O/sub 2/, denatured (/sup 235//U/sup 238/U-Th)O/sub 2/, and (Th-Pu)O/sub 2/. Selected transients were analyzed using typical PWR safety analysis calculational methods. The results support the conclusion that it is feasible from a safety standpoint to utilize either of the denatured urania-thoria fuels in the standard B and W plant. In addition, it appears that the use of thoria-plutonia fuels would probably also be feasible. These tentative conclusions depend on a data that is more limited than that available for UO/sub 2/ fuels.

Research Organization:
Babcock and Wilcox Co., Lynchburg, VA (USA). Power Generation Div.
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5081441
Report Number(s):
ORNL/Sub-7496/1; BAW-1609; TRN: 80-017828
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English