A Strategy for the Practical Utilization of Thorium Fuel Cycles

Author

Paul R. Kasten

Abstract

There has been increasing interest in the utilization of thorium fuel cycles in nuclear power reactors for the past few years because of economic, fuel utilization, and pro- 1 iteration resistance factors. Also, it appears desirable to maintain the ratio of thermal reactors to fast reactors at a high value in the long term because of economic and proliferation resistance features. The analysis performed here concludes that the practical, early utilization of thorium fuel cycles in power reactors requires commercialization of HTGRs operating first on stowaway fuel cycles, followed by thorium fuel recycle. In the longer term, thorium utilization involves use,of thorium blankets in fast breeder reactors, in combination with recycling the bred ²³³U to HTGRs (preferably), or to other thermal reactors.

Recommended Citation

Kasten, Paul R., "A Strategy for the Practical Utilization of Thorium Fuel Cycles" (1978). UMR-MEC Conference on Energy / UMR-DNR Conference on Energy. 356, pp. 107-114.
https://scholarsmine.mst.edu/umr-mec/356

Meeting Name

5th Annual UMR-DNR Conference on Energy (1978: Oct. 10-12, Rolla, MO)

Document Type

Article - Conference proceedings

Session

Nuclear Energy

Document Version

Final Version

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 1978 University of Missouri--Rolla, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

12 Oct 1978