Download - Thorium (use in reactors)
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Sonu Baba
Roll No: 52
S7 .EEE
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CONTENTS
Introduction About Thorium
Historical Background
Properties of Thorium
Thorium as Nuclear Fuel
Thorium Reactor
Generation iv Technology
Advantages Disadvantages
Challenges & Strategies
Conclusion
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INTRODUCTION
A Nuclear power station uses nuclear energy forgenerating electrical energy.
This power station is generally located far frompopulated areas.
This kind of power station can be used to producelarge amounts of electrical energy.
Now a days fuel used in nuclear power plant isUranium, but it has lots and lots ofdisadvantages.
What can be a remedy to all theseconcerns?
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THORIUM
Jons Jakob Berzelius
Discoverer of Thorium
World Thorium Resources
Country Reserves(Tonnes)Australia
300000
India 290000
Norway 170000
USA 160000
Canada 100000
South Africa 35000Brazil 16000
Other Countries 95000
World Total 1200000
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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 Uraniumreserves.
In mid 1960s and 80s, several experimental and prototype
power reactors were successfully operated using Thorium fuels.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
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PROPERTIES OF THORIUM
More abundant in nature
It can be used as a nuclear fuelthrough 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.
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THORIUM AS A NUCLEAR FUEL
longer fuel cycles.
Increased proliferation resistance.
Less waste.
Slightly radioactive
High burnup and improved waste formcharacteristics.
They have many physical & chemicalproperties which improve reactorperformance.
Available resources.
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THORIUM REACTOR
1. reactor block
2. cooling tower
3. reactor
4. control rod
5. support for pressure
6. steam generator
7. fuel element8. 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
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GENERATION IV TECHNOLOGY
The Generation IV technologieshave set demanding sustainabilitygoals, including more efficient use offuel, less waste and better economicperformance, as well as improved
safety and reliability, and enhancedproliferation resistance and physicalprotection
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MOLTEN SALT REACTOR
One Of Six International Generation For Designs
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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
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ADVANTAGES (Contd)
Significantly lower capital costs
Lower regulatory burden
No grid interfacing costs: Minimum line losses
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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 militaryapplications.
Some aspects ofthorium cycle requirespecific design and operation features forthe reactor and fuel cycle facilities (reactor
operation, fuel processing.
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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 limitenergy import dependence in percentage terms at about the
current level.
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CONCLUSION
Future generations will want todepend more on this type ofelectricity generating powerstationdue to fast increasing depletion offuels such as coal. There are a
number of construction projectscurrently underway for this kind ofpowerstation arround the world.
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THANK YOU
Sonu Baba
Roll No: 52
S7 .EEE