USING THORIUM IN EXISTING NUCLEAR REACTORS
Reactor design
Many experiments have demonstrated the possiblity to use Thorium in existing PWR reactors. The concept is to replace U238 by Th232, and is still interesting, because of the drastic reduction of transuranide waste. A specific design has been proposed with the Radkowsky Thorium Reactor (RTR)
Many experiments have demonstrated the possiblity to use Thorium in existing PWR reactors. The concept is to replace U238 by Th232, and is still interesting, because of the drastic reduction of transuranide waste. A specific design has been proposed with the Radkowsky Thorium Reactor (RTR)
Nuclear fuel
In this “seed-blanket” fuel design, the classical assemblies are replaced by 2 types of elements :
- fertile tubes (“blanket”), made of Thorium, which generates U233 and fissions in-situ
- active tubes (“seed”), containing U235 which delivers the neutrons to the blanket
