Thorium Fission Technology

Flashcards about thorium and molten salt reactors for exam preparation.

What is Thorium?

A nuclear fuel that is abundant, releases fission products that quickly decay, and can supply energy needs for thousands of years.

Who is Morten Thrane Esmark?

He discovered the brown stone thorite in Norway in 1828 but couldn't identify it.

Who is Jöns Jacob Berzelius?

He successfully isolated a new oxide from the thorite sample, naming it Thoria, and named the element Thorium after the Norse god Thor.

Who is Marie Curie?

She discovered Thorium's radioactivity in 1898 while searching for elements similar to Uranium.

What discovery was made by the University of California at Berkeley regarding thorium?

In 1940, they discovered that thorium transmutes into uranium-233, a fissionable material, when irradiated with neutrons.

Who is Homi J. Bhabha?

Indian physicist who first proposed using thorium instead of uranium for nuclear reactors in the 1950s.

What was the US Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion program?

This program aimed to develop a nuclear-powered long-range bomber plane using a molten salt reactor.

What did Oak Ridge National Laboratory achieve in November 1954?

They managed to operate an experimental reactor using thorium and uranium as fuel, demonstrating the feasibility of molten salt reactors.

What is China's goal regarding thorium molten salt reactors by 2029?

China aims to have the first ever commercial thorium reactor and first commercial thorium molten salt reactor online.

What is a molten salt in a molten salt reactor?

The coolant inside the core is a salt mixture heated above its melting point.

How is the fuel arranged in a molten salt reactor?

Fuel is either dissolved in the molten salt, with graphite rods as a moderator, or contained in solid or liquid form inside rods, with the molten salt as the coolant.

How does a molten salt reactor achieve passive shutdown?

The liquid salt expands when temperature rises, stopping the chain reaction .

What are actinides?

Molten salt reactors can burn these elements, which are formed by fission, in addition to fission products.

What are some problems being worked on regarding molten salt reactors?

Corrosiveness of the molten salt and the low efficiency of using chemical reduction through doped hydrogen gas.