Is thorium the nuclear fuel of the future?

Thorium reactors are a different way to generate electricity that could benefit the world. More efficient than their fossil fuel counterparts, safer than a conventional nuclear plant, and generating no carbon emissions as a byproduct, LFTRs are a viable solution for the future of our world’s energy needs.

Is a nuclear reactor using thorium feasible if so how can it be constructed?

It is not possible to design viable thorium-based PWR fuels that convert significant amounts of U-233. Even though PWRs are not the perfect reactor in which to use thorium, they are the industry workhorse and there is a lot of PWR licensing experience.

Why might thorium be called the element of the future?

Thorium gives scientists the chance to build a different and potentially safer kind of reactor. Normal reactors produce energy when (and I’m glossing over details here, of course) uranium atoms split into two lighter elements, like barium or lanthanum.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of thorium fuel cycle?

According to proponents, a thorium fuel cycle offers several potential advantages over a uranium fuel cycle —including much greater abundance of thorium on Earth, superior physical and nuclear fuel properties, and reduced nuclear waste production. However, development of thorium power has significant start-up costs.

What is the best fuel for thorium nuclear power plants?

Fissile drive fuel could be LEU, plutonium, or recycled uranium from LWR. Fleets of PHWRs with near-self-sufficient equilibrium thorium fuel cycles could be supported by a few fast breeder reactors to provide plutonium.

What is Thor energy doing with thorium?

In Norway, Thor Energy is developing and testing a thorium-bearing fuel for use in existing nuclear power plants. Fuel rods containing thorium additive (Th-Add) and also thorium MOX (with Pu) fuel rods were tested in a five-year irradiation trial that started in April 2013 at the Halden test reactor.

How many thorium nuclear reactors are there in the world?

As of 2020, there are no operational thorium reactors in the world. A nuclear reactor consumes certain specific fissile isotopes to produce energy. Currently, the most common types of nuclear reactor fuel are: