There are two types of LWR, namely, a pressurized water reactor (PWR) and a boiling water reactor (BWR). The plutonium-based nuclear fuel is comprised of plutonium, zirconium hydride, and.
This paper briefly goes over the background on using thorium as a source for nuclear reactors and discusses the major benefits and drawbacks of using thorium as an energy source for nuclear power. Thorium has properties like uranium which allows it to fuel a nuclear chain reaction.
What is thorium used for?
It is also used to manufacture camera lenses and scientific instruments, heat-resistant ceramics, airplane engines and lightbulbs. In the search for clean and sustainable energy sources, thorium is an alternative to uranium as a nuclear fuel. It could help overcome some of the challenges presented by traditional nuclear generation of electricity.
Can thorium be used as a fuel?
The uranium-233 produced during the thorium fuel cycle contains uranium-232, which produces intense gamma radiation when it breaks down. For this reason it is not suitable for military use. This characteristic adds a safety layer against nuclear proliferation. As fuel, thorium is especially suitable for Molten Salt Reactors (MSR).
It is difficult to make a practical nuclear bomb from a thorium reactor's by-products, allowing governments to potentially pursue further nuclear power without worsening nuclear arms proliferation. Thorium is not fissile like uranium, so packed thorium nuclei will not begin to split apart and explode.
Why is thorium better than uranium?
Thorium is significantly more abundant in the Earth's crust than uranium, the main fuel used in most nuclear reactors. This makes thorium much more adequate for long-term energy sustainability. P ractically all the thorium that is extracted may be used in a reactor.
Thorium reactors are a fascinating prospect for the future of clean, safer nuclear power with hopes of more efficient production. Further research still needs to be completed, and regulations surrounding the fuels must be implemented to limit proliferation.