Table of Contents
Why we should use thorium reactors?
Thorium-based reactors are safer because the reaction can easily be stopped and because the operation does not have to take place under extreme pressures. Compared to uranium reactors, thorium reactors produce far less waste and the waste that is generated is much less radioactive and much shorter-lived.
Why are molten salt reactors good?
MSR’s are considered safer than conventional reactors because they operate with fuel already in a molten state, and in event of an emergency, the fuel mixture is designed to drain from the core where it will solidify, preventing the type of nuclear meltdown and associated hydrogen explosions that are at risk in …
Do molten salt reactors use thorium?
And it will be the first molten-salt reactor to be fuelled by thorium. The salt acts as a coolant to transport heat from the reactor core. In addition, rather than solid fuel rods, molten-salt reactors also use the liquid salt as a substrate for the fuel, such as thorium, to be directly dissolved into the core.
Why dont we use molten salt reactors?
Such a reactor couldn’t possibly suffer a meltdown, even in an accident: The molten salt core was liquid already. The fission-product heat would simply cause the salt mix to expand and move the fuel nuclei farther apart, which would dampen the chain reaction.
Does molten salt make up the coolant in a thorium reactor?
However, the molten salt isn’t just the fuel; it’s the coolant as well. There are still several problems that need solving before NRG’s thorium reactor designs will be scaled up to industrial levels.
Can thorium be used as a fuel in nuclear reactors?
But in a molten salt reactor one can also use thorium as a fuel and it is estimated that there is a factor 3 more thorium on earth that uranium. Thorium is easily accessible and at this moment is mostly a by-product of rare-earth mining. There is also thorium dissolved in ocean water. Thorium and uranium are a truly sustainable source of energy.
Are molten salt reactors still used today?
Molten Salt Reactors 1 Molten salt reactors operated in the 1960s. 2 They are seen as a promising technology today principally as a thorium fuel cycle prospect or for using spent LWR fuel. 3 A variety of designs is being developed, some as fast neutron types. 4 Global research is currently led by China.
Are NRG’s new thorium reactor designs safe?
There are still several problems that need solving before NRG’s thorium reactor designs will be scaled up to industrial levels. While the waste is safer, scientists still need to figure out how much of it there will be and what can be done with it. The environment inside a molten salt reactor is also extremely corrosive.