Design of world's first Thorium based nuclear reactor is ready

[OnlinePoker]

Finally, the wait is over. The design of World's first Thorium based nuclear reactor is ready.

India Today Online brings you the first look of design and prototype of the Advanced Heavy Water Reactor, also termed as AHWR.

It is the latest Indian design for a next-generation nuclear reactor that will burn thorium as its fuel ore.

The design is being developed at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), in Mumbai, India and aims to meet the objectives of using thorium fuel cycles for commercial power generation.



Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/worlds-first-thorium-based-nuclear-reactor-barc/1/343569.html

[indie9197]

1. It is not really a thorium reactor.

They will use a fast breeder reactor to turn Thorium into U233 and Plutonium, which is the fuel for the reactor.

[hunter]

2. ???

U233 or plutonium is the "match" or "kindling" used to start such a reactor. (An analogy with fire... don't fuss.)

Once started the reactor runs on thorium.

[indie9197]

3. It doesnt say that in the article

Post some better links if you have them.

[hunter]

4. That's how the thorium fuel cycle works.

As the reactor is running thorium is transmuted into fissile ²³³U which is the actual "fuel" of the reactor.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium_fuel_cycle

But it does take plutonium and ²³³U from another reactor to start the reaction. Once started, new thorium fuel bundles can be added as the spent bundles are removed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_heavy-water_reactor

This reactor design seems to be quite flexible in the fuels it can utilize. I can't find right away any documentation for the actual fuel cycles planned. It probably depends on what sorts of potential fuels they have on hand and what their fuel reprocessing capabilities are.