Thorium (use In Reactors)

Sonu Baba Roll No: 52 S7 .EEE

CONTENTS • • • • • • • • • • •

Introduction About Thorium Historical Background Properties of Thorium Thorium as Nuclear Fuel Thorium Reactor Generation iv Technology Advantages Disadvantages Challenges & Strategies Conclusion

INTRODUCTION • A Nuclear power station uses nuclear energy for generating electrical energy. • This power station is generally located far from populated areas. • This kind of power station can be used to produce large amounts of electrical energy. • Now a days fuel used in nuclear power plant is Uranium, but it has lots and lots of disadvantages.

What can be a remedy to all these concerns?

THORIUM World Thorium Resources Country

“Jons Jakob Berzelius” Discoverer of Thorium

Australia

Reserves(Tonn es) 300000

India

290000

Norway

170000

USA

160000

Canada

100000

South Africa

35000

Brazil

16000

Other Countries

95000

World Total

1200000

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

• During the early years of nuclear energy, from 1950s to mid 1970s, there was considerable interest worldwide to develop Thorium fuels and cycles in order to supplement Uranium reserves. • In mid 1960s and 80s, several experimental and prototype power reactors were successfully operated using Thorium fuels.

PROPERTIES OF THORIUM • More abundant in nature • It can be used as a nuclear fuel through breeding to uranium-233. • Slightly radioactive metal. • Th-232 decays very slower than uranium isotopes. • Powered thorium metal will often ignite spontaneously in air & should be handled carefully.

THORIUM AS A NUCLEAR FUEL • • • • •

longer fuel cycles. Increased proliferation resistance. Less waste. Slightly radioactive High burnup and improved waste form characteristics. • They have many physical & chemical properties which improve reactor performance. • Available resources.

FACT INDIA’S 30% THORIUM RESOURCE BASE CAN FUEL FOR NEXT 2500 YEARS OF ELECTRICITY.

THORIUM REACTOR 1. reactor block 2. cooling tower 3. reactor 4. control rod 5. support for pressure 6. steam generator 7. fuel element 8. turbine 9. generator 10. transformer 11. condenser 12. gaseous 13. liquid 14. air 15. air (humid) 16. river 17. cooling-water circulation 18. primary circuit 19. secondary circuit 20. water vapor 21. pump

“GENERATION IV TECHNOLOGY” The “Generation IV” technologies have set demanding sustainability goals, including more efficient use of fuel, less waste and better economic performance, as well as improved safety and reliability, and enhanced proliferation resistance and physical protection…

MOLTEN SALT REACTOR

One Of Six International Generation For Designs

ADVANTAGES • No pressure vessel required • Liquid fuel requires no expensive fuel fabrication and qualification • Smaller power conversion system • Factory built-modular construction • Smaller containment building needed • Simpler operation - No re-fueling shut down - Significantly lower maintenance - Significantly smaller staff

ADVANTAGES (Contd…) • • • •

Significantly lower capital costs Lower regulatory burden No grid interfacing costs: Minimum line losses

DISADVANTAGES • Production of long lived nuclear waste. • Safety issues and possibilities of nuclear accidents. • Unavoidable production of fissile material (239 Pu), which can be diverted to military applications. • Some aspects of thorium cycle require specific design and operation features for the reactor and fuel cycle facilities (reactor operation, fuel processing.

CHALLENGES & STRATEGIES •A country of the size of India cannot afford to plan its economy on the basis of large scale import of energy resources or energy technology • Indigenous development of energy technologies based on domestic fuel resources should be a priority for us. • Nuclear power must contribute about a quarter of the total electric power required 50 years from now, in order to limit energy import dependence in percentage terms at about the current level.

CONCLUSION Future generations will want to depend more on this type of electricity generating powerstation due to fast increasing depletion of fuels such as coal. There are a number of construction projects currently underway for this kind of powerstation arround the world.

THANK YOU Sonu Baba Roll No: 52 S7 .EEE