Update on the liquid fluoride thorium reactor projects in. Alvin weinbergs liquid fuel reactors atomic insights. Flibe energys liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr. Apr 29, 2015 liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr is an innovative design for the thermal breeder reactor that has important potential benefits over the traditional reactor design. The major goal of the msrp was to achieve a thorium reactor that could produce power at low cost while simultaneously conserving and. Main purpose of the nuclear reactor is to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Alternatively, sign the epetition on the hm government website. The liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr design by flibe energy is a graphitemoderated, thermalspectrum reactor with solutions of liquid fluoride salts containing both fissile and fertile materials. Admittedly yang does not clarify what type of thorium reactor he is referring to, but from his comments it is likely that he is referring to the liquid flouride throrium reactor lftr or some similar variant, which uses liquid fluoride as the coolant rather than water, and does not use solid fuel, but rather adds the fuel unanium 233 to the. The prothorium lobby claim a single tonne of thorium burned in a molten salt reactor msr typically a liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr which has liquid rather than solid fuel, can.
In a typical design, the liquid is pumped between a critical core and an external heat exchanger where the heat is transferred to a nonradioactive secondary. Thermal power generated from nuclear fission would drive electrical generation in a closedcycle gas turbine power conversion system. As fission occurs, heat and neutrons are released from the core and absorbed by the surrounding salt. Fluid fluorides and chlorides reactor research and development on molten salt reactors msrs papers, books, and reports. Kirk sorensen presented an introduction to flibe energy at the thorium energy conference 2011 55 pages flibe energy will initially design, develop and demonstrate a small modular liquidfluoride thorium reactor smlftr for the us military. Molten salt reactors msrs papers, books, and reports. Optional offshore submarine installation of the power plant is a major consideration. Aware of the future effect of carbon dioxide emissions, weinberg wrote humankinds whole future depended on this.
Therefore, lftr technology is fundamentally different from the solid fuel technology currently in use. Its objectives for modular reactor design and its plans for manufacturing and deployment of these reactors will be described. First, thorium 232 and uranium233 are added to fluoride salts in the reactor core. The first fuel was a highenriched 33% u235 uranium dissolved as uf4 in a lifbef2zrf4 salt. Thoriumisfourtimesmoreabundant than uranium and naturally occurs in only one isotope, 232th, eliminating all enrichment activities inherent in.
The hanzehogeschool is advised to continue research into this technology. In general, use of thorium based fuel in light water reactors is possible, but not so promising. Lftr is fluoride based liquid fuel, that use the thorium dissolved in salt mixture of lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride. Desired first demonstration at a military site to be determined. Why didnt this happen and why is now the right time. Private companies from japan, russia, australia and the united states, and the chinese government, have expressed interest in developing this technology.
Bwr fuel assemblies can be flexibly designed in terms of rods with varying compositions fissile content, and structural features enabling the fuel to. A significant advantage of using thorium to breed u233 is that relatively little plutonium is produced from the th232 because six more neutron absorptions are required than is the case with u238. The generation iv reactor designs are attempts to do just that. Lftrs use the thorium fuel cycle with a fluoridebased, molten. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr simply too dangerous thats why it was stopped. Lftrs use the thorium fuel cycle with a fluoride based, molten, liquid salt for fuel.
In general, a nuclear reactor is a key device of nuclear power plants, nuclear research facilities or nuclear propelled ships. Reactors containing molten thorium salt are called liquid fluoride thorium reactors lftr. A thoriumsalt reactor has fired up for the first time in. Jun 23, 2011 the prothorium lobby claim a single tonne of thorium burned in a molten salt reactor msr typically a liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr which has liquid rather than solid fuel, can. The molten salt reactor experiment, powered first with u235 and then u233, operated successfully over 4 years, through 1969. The thorium fuelled msr variant is sometimes referred to as the liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr, utilizing u233 which has been bred in a liquid thorium salt blanket.
May 25, 2016 the liquid flouride thorium reactor lftr solution sam packard. I would like to have some idea of how the system would react to such changes in nuclear geometry. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr simply too dangerous. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor thorium nuclear energy. Advantages of liquid fluoride thorium reactor in comparison. The liquidfluoride thorium reactor lftr design by flibe energy is a graphite moderated, thermalspectrum reactor with solutions of liquid. The lftr is a liquid fueled, graphitemoderated, thermal spectrum breeder reactor optimized for operation on a thorium supported uranium233 th233u fuel cycle. Should we consider using liquid fluoride thorium reactors for. Liquidfluoride thorium reactor development strategy. October 8, 2018, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the operation of the moltensalt reactor experiment msre using uranium233 as a fuel. Ralph moir, who continues to help and encourage me and many other pilgrims, in our molten salt adventures journey. Thorium becomes earths most abundant stored energy resource when used in the lftr. Molten salt reactors incl liquid fluoride thorium reactor. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor wikipedia republished.
Lftrs use the thorium fuel cycle with a fluoridebased, molten, liquid salt for fuel. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor wikimili, the best. The objective of the liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr design proposed by flibe energy is to develop a nuclear power plant that will produce electrical energy at low cost. Dec 18, 2018 to a limited group of technophiles and nuclear technology enthusiasts, thorium has become a unicorn. The liquidfluoride thorium reactor lftr design by flibe energy is a graphitemoderated, thermalspectrum reactor with solutions of liquid fluoride salts containing both fissile and fertile materials. Flibe energy has worked to advance the technology for liquid fluoride thorium reactors lftrs since its incorporation in april 2011. High efficiency nuclear power plants using liquid fluoride thorium. A liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr is a type of molten salt reactor msr that can use inexpensive thorium for fuel thorium becomes uranium inside the reactor. The entire lifecycle for a thorium reactor shows bene. Some people believe that liquid fluoride thorium reactors, which would use a. Lftr lftr or liquid fluoride thorium reactor is a safer, cleaner, and more efficient nuclear reactor. Thorium reactor liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr. The initial enthusiasm on thorium fuels and fuel cycles was not sustained among the developing countries later, due to new discovery of uranium deposits and their improved availability.
First, thorium232 and uranium233 are added to fluoride salts in the reactor core. A slightly different type of msr can consume the uraniumplutonium waste from solidfueled reactors as fuel. Lftr is fluoride based liquid fuel, that use the thorium dissolved in salt mixture of lithium fluoride. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, the scientists at oak ridge national laboratory in the usa developed the molten salt reactor design a liquid salt fueled and cooled nuclear reactor system. Temperature gas reactor htgr or gas turbine modular helium reactor gtmhr baxi, 2006, 2009 refer to the directly cbc systems, while cbc energy conversion via the very high temperature reactor vhtr, msrmolten salt reactor, or lftr liquid fluoride thorium reactor refer to indirectly heated cycles. The liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr is a promising, innovative reactor design that uses liquid instead of solid fuel, and thorium instead of uranium, giving it considerable benefits over traditional uraniumfuelled light water reactors lwrs. The goal here is to present the basics of a lftr design and the inherent advantages and problems with such a design.
A liquidfluoride reactor, the aircraft reactor experiment, was operated at oak ridge national laboratory in 1954 as part of the anp program. Thus, this paper seeks to critically examine these claims and exhaustively analyze the differences between thorium plants in particular liquid fluoride thorium reactors, or lftrs and traditional uranium plants. Dont believe the spin on thorium being a greener nuclear. In a typical design, the liquid is pumped between a critical core and an external heat exchanger where the heat is transferred to a nonradioactive secondary salt. Should we consider using liquid fluoride thorium reactors. Advantages of liquid fluoride thorium reactor in comparison with light water reactor conference paper pdf available november 2014 with 1,333 reads how we measure reads.
To a limited group of technophiles and nuclear technology enthusiasts, thorium has become a unicorn. Perhaps these technical problems can be overcome, but why would anyone bother to try, knowing in advance that the msr plant will be uneconomic due to huge construction costs and operating costs, plus will explode and rain radioactive molten salt when not if the steam generator tubes leak. The first experiment is on a setup called a moltensalt fast reactor, which burns thorium salt and in theory should also be able to consume spent nuclear fuel from typical uranium fission reactions. The major goal of the msrp was to achieve a thorium reactor that could produce power at low cost while simultaneously conserving and extending the nations fuel resources. U233 is a superior nuclear fuel, producing enough neutrons through its fission. Canadian david leblanc writes and presents articles as well as starting up terrestrial energy, which may first harness process heat from a commercial msr. In a large pool of thorium fluoride gradually transmuting to u233, it seems at least possible for gradients to form with potentially quite different fuel concentrations and compositions. Some people believe that liquid fluoride thorium reactors, which would use a high.
The first fuel was a highenriched 33% u235 uranium dissolved as uf4 in a. High efficiency nuclear power plants using liquid fluoride. Our particular emphasis is on the liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor page 4 physics forums. Flibe energy has taken the oak ridge work and enhanced the design into the liquidfluoride thorium reactor lftr, a moltensalt reactor design that can utilize thorium more effectively and efficiently than ever before. But does thorium really represent nuclear innovation. Reactor vhtr, msrmolten salt reactor, or lftr liquid fluoride thorium reactor refer to indirectly heated. The large expensive breeding blanket of thorium salt was omitted in favor of neutron measurements. It is generally considered inherently safer, cleaner and more economically viable than conventional reactors, but was not chosen by doe as the technology of choice. Flibe energy liquid flouride thorium reactor company. This paper will focus on the liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr design, an implementation of one such gen iv idea, the molten salt reactor. Natural thorium is relatively abundant in many parts of the world, including those lacking uranium resources. In a conventional pwr the fuel pellets contain uo 2 with fissile u235 content expensively enriched to 3.
Heat from the reactor is transferred to another loop of molten salt not containing nuclear materials. Flibe energy has worked to advance the technology for liquidfluoride thorium reactors lftrs since its incorporation in april 2011. Flibe energy lftr development strategy thorium energy world. Juhaszl nasa glenn research center, cleveland, ohio 445 richard a. An investigation into liquid fluoride thorium reactors.
Research and development of thorium based nuclear reactors, primarily the liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr, msr design, has been or is now being done in the united states, united kingdom, germany, brazil, india, china, france, the czech republic, japan, russia, canada, israel, denmark and the netherlands. Oct 18, 2014 a liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr is the optimal approach for harvesting energy from thorium, and has the potential to solve todays energyclimate crisis. Uri gat, who introduced me to molten salt reactors in 1993 and dr. A liquidfluoride thorium reactor lftr is the optimal approach for harvesting energy from thorium, and has the potential to solve todays energyclimate crisis. Most common nuclear reactors are light water reactors lwr, that are based on the uranium fuel cycle and use an enriched uranium fuel 4% of u235 as a. Thorium fuel cycle potential benefits and challenges. The liquid flouride thorium reactor lftr solution sam packard. Pdf advantages of liquid fluoride thorium reactor in. By utilizing thorium fuel in a thermal neutron spectrum, the reactor is able to utilize the energy. Pdf advantages of liquid fluoride thorium reactor in comparison. The liquid flouride thorium reactor lftr solution youtube. I have no qualms in trying to campaign for uk manufacture of lftrs and if any of you feel so inclined, make it happen here by voting on 38degrees, the campaigning website and search for uk manufacture of liquid fluoride thorium reactors.
Thoriumisfourtimesmoreabundant than uranium and naturally occurs in only one isotope, 232th, eliminating all enrichment activities inherent in uranium mining and processing. The lftr is a liquidfueled, graphitemoderated, thermal spectrum breeder reactor optimized for operation on a thoriumsupported uranium233 th233u fuel cycle. Aug 08, 2011 in a large pool of thorium fluoride gradually transmuting to u233, it seems at least possible for gradients to form with potentially quite different fuel concentrations and compositions. Liquid fluoride thorium reactors lftrs over pressurised. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor page 3 physics forums. The liquid fluoride thorium reactor is a type of molten salt reactor. Reactors containing molten thorium salt, called liquid fluoride thorium reactors lftr, would tap the thorium fuel cycle. Is thorium the fuel of the future to revitalize nuclear. Pdf liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr is an innovative design for the thermal breeder reactor that has important potential benefits over the. Thorium and uranium233 are dissolved in molten lithium fluoride salt in the reactor. Unlike conventional light water reactor designs, the liquid. Molten salt reactors are generation iv nuclear fission reactors that use molten salt as either the primary reactor coolant or as the fuel itself. Rarick2 and rajmohan rangarajan3 cleveland state university, cleveland, ohio 44115 an overall system analysis approach is used to propose potential conceptual designs of.
Advantages of liquid fluoride thorium reactor in comparison with light water reactor. High efficiency nuclear power plants using liquid fluoride thorium reactor technology albert j. The liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr consists of a critical core orange containing fissile uranium233 in a. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr is an innovative design for the thermal breeder reactor that has important potential benefits over the traditional reactor design. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor wikipedia republished wiki 2. As fission radioactive decay occurs, heat is released and free neutrons start changing more thorium into uranium233. Research and development of thoriumbased nuclear reactors, primarily the liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr, msr design, has been or is now being done in the united states, united kingdom, germany, brazil, india, china, france, the czech republic, japan, russia, canada, israel, denmark and the netherlands. Temperature gas reactor htgr or gas turbine modular helium reactor gtmhr baxi, 2006, 2009 refer to the directly cbc systems, while cbc energy conversion via the very high temperature reactor vhtr, msrmolten salt reactor, or lftr liquid fluoride thorium reactor refer to. Public utilities, energy, and technology interim committee.
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