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Sonu Baba

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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

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