Thorium Oxide Nuclear Fuels

    Research outputpeer-review

    2 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    This review introduces the reader to thorium oxide based nuclear fuels and their in-reactor performance. Thorium has been considered as fertile resource for virtually any reactor type, but since the vast majority of current nuclear reactors operates with pellet-rod-assembly fuels, the focus of the paper is on pellet-type ThO2. Given the lack of fissile Th-isotopes, thorium oxide based fuels are always mixed oxides, either via in-reactor conversion into fissile 233U, or through mixing with enriched uranium or plutonium. Thorium has been studied as fertile resource since several decades, and continues to be investigated today, although not with the same prominence as in the 1960s and 1970s, in which period large demonstration programs have been conducted. The research programs of that era are today still the basis of a significant portion of the thoria fuel knowledge. Wherever possible, the present review includes references of original work often published several decades ago and compares those results with more recently obtained findings.

    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationComprehensive Nuclear Materials
    Subtitle of host publicationSecond Edition
    PublisherElsevier B.V.
    Chapter5.05
    Pages139-168
    Number of pages30
    ISBN (Electronic)9780081028650
    ISBN (Print)9780081028667
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 22 Jul 2020

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Physics and Astronomy

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