Why didnt this happen and why is now the right time. The lftr is a liquidfueled, graphitemoderated, thermal spectrum breeder reactor optimized for operation on a thoriumsupported uranium233 th233u fuel cycle. 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. Should we consider using liquid fluoride thorium reactors. Lftr is fluoride based liquid fuel, that use the thorium dissolved in salt mixture of lithium fluoride. Flibe energy has worked to advance the technology for liquid fluoride thorium reactors lftrs since its incorporation in april 2011. 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. Thoriumisfourtimesmoreabundant than uranium and naturally occurs in only one isotope, 232th, eliminating all enrichment activities inherent in uranium mining and processing. 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. As fission radioactive decay occurs, heat is released and free neutrons start changing more thorium into uranium233.
The molten salt reactor experiment, powered first with u235 and then u233, operated successfully over 4 years, through 1969. High efficiency nuclear power plants using liquid fluoride thorium reactor technology albert j. U233 is a superior nuclear fuel, producing enough neutrons through its fission. Main purpose of the nuclear reactor is to initiate and control a sustained nuclear chain reaction. Dont believe the spin on thorium being a greener nuclear. 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. Lftrs use the thorium fuel cycle with a fluoridebased, molten. A liquidfluoride reactor, the aircraft reactor experiment, was operated at oak ridge national laboratory in 1954 as part of the anp program. The lftr is a liquid fueled, graphitemoderated, thermal spectrum breeder reactor optimized for operation on a thorium supported uranium233 th233u fuel cycle. Flibe energys liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr. Public utilities, energy, and technology interim committee. 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.
Thoriumisfourtimesmoreabundant than uranium and naturally occurs in only one isotope, 232th, eliminating all enrichment activities inherent in. The liquid flouride thorium reactor lftr solution sam packard. Thorium and uranium233 are dissolved in molten lithium fluoride salt in the reactor. An investigation into liquid fluoride thorium reactors. Uri gat, who introduced me to molten salt reactors in 1993 and dr. 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.
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. Reactor vhtr, msrmolten salt reactor, or lftr liquid fluoride thorium reactor refer to indirectly heated. Pdf advantages of liquid fluoride thorium reactor in comparison. Molten salt reactors msrs papers, books, and reports. Our particular emphasis is on the liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr. Canadian david leblanc writes and presents articles as well as starting up terrestrial energy, which may first harness process heat from a commercial msr. Dec 18, 2018 to a limited group of technophiles and nuclear technology enthusiasts, thorium has become a unicorn. 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.
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. Reactors containing molten thorium salt, called liquid fluoride thorium reactors lftr, would tap the thorium fuel cycle. Flibe energy liquid flouride thorium reactor company. In a conventional pwr the fuel pellets contain uo 2 with fissile u235 content expensively enriched to 3. 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. Thorium reactor liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr. 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. The entire lifecycle for a thorium reactor shows bene. 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 and beryllium fluoride. Unlike conventional light water reactor designs, the liquid. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor thorium nuclear energy.
Molten salt reactors incl liquid fluoride thorium reactor. 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. October 8, 2018, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the operation of the moltensalt reactor experiment msre using uranium233 as a fuel. Private companies from japan, russia, australia and the united states, and the chinese government, have expressed interest in developing this technology. The liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr consists of a critical core orange containing fissile uranium233 in a. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor page 3 physics forums. Juhaszl nasa glenn research center, cleveland, ohio 445 richard a. Liquidfluoride thorium reactor development strategy.
Liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr simply too dangerous thats why it was stopped. 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. 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. Lftrs use the thorium fuel cycle with a fluoride based, molten, liquid salt for fuel. Advantages of liquid fluoride thorium reactor in comparison with light water reactor aip, free pdf access. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor wikipedia republished wiki 2. A liquidfluoride thorium reactor lftr is the optimal approach for harvesting energy from thorium, and has the potential to solve todays energyclimate crisis. The first fuel was a highenriched 33% u235 uranium dissolved as uf4 in a.
The major goal of the msrp was to achieve a thorium reactor that could produce power at low cost while simultaneously conserving and. 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. Rarick2 and rajmohan rangarajan3 cleveland state university, cleveland, ohio 44115 an overall system analysis approach is used to propose potential conceptual designs of. 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. Update on the liquid fluoride thorium reactor projects in. Natural thorium is relatively abundant in many parts of the world, including those lacking uranium resources. Thermal power generated from nuclear fission would drive electrical generation in a closedcycle gas turbine power conversion system. 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.
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. Aware of the future effect of carbon dioxide emissions, weinberg wrote humankinds whole future depended on this. Liquid fluoride thorium reactors lftrs over pressurised. 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. 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. 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. Alvin weinbergs liquid fuel reactors atomic insights. 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. High efficiency nuclear power plants using liquid fluoride thorium.
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. Should we consider using liquid fluoride thorium reactors for. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor page 4 physics forums. But does thorium really represent nuclear innovation. Therefore, lftr technology is fundamentally different from the solid fuel technology currently in use. Molten salt reactors are generation iv nuclear fission reactors that use molten salt as either the primary reactor coolant or as the fuel itself. In general, use of thorium based fuel in light water reactors is possible, but not so promising. Lftr lftr or liquid fluoride thorium reactor is a safer, cleaner, and more efficient nuclear reactor. 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. The liquid flouride thorium reactor lftr solution youtube. Its objectives for modular reactor design and its plans for manufacturing and deployment of these reactors will be described. 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. 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 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. Thorium fuel cycle potential benefits and challenges. The hanzehogeschool is advised to continue research into this technology. As fission occurs, heat and neutrons are released from the core and absorbed by the surrounding salt. 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. Ralph moir, who continues to help and encourage me and many other pilgrims, in our molten salt adventures journey.
Some people believe that liquid fluoride thorium reactors, which would use a. The large expensive breeding blanket of thorium salt was omitted in favor of neutron measurements. Desired first demonstration at a military site to be determined. The liquid fluoride thorium reactor is a type of molten salt reactor. Bwr fuel assemblies can be flexibly designed in terms of rods with varying compositions fissile content, and structural features enabling the fuel to. The generation iv reactor designs are attempts to do just that. Reactors containing molten thorium salt are called liquid fluoride thorium reactors lftr. 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. 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. Flibe energy lftr development strategy thorium energy world.
Thorium becomes earths most abundant stored energy resource when used in the lftr. Some people believe that liquid fluoride thorium reactors, which would use a high. Fluid fluorides and chlorides reactor research and development on molten salt reactors msrs papers, books, and reports. First, thorium 232 and uranium233 are added to fluoride salts in the reactor core. In general, a nuclear reactor is a key device of nuclear power plants, nuclear research facilities or nuclear propelled ships. A thoriumsalt reactor has fired up for the first time in. High efficiency nuclear power plants using liquid fluoride. By utilizing thorium fuel in a thermal neutron spectrum, the reactor is able to utilize the energy.
The first fuel was a highenriched 33% u235 uranium dissolved as uf4 in a lifbef2zrf4 salt. Pdf advantages of liquid fluoride thorium reactor in. 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. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr simply too dangerous. May 25, 2016 the liquid flouride thorium reactor lftr solution sam packard. 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. Optional offshore submarine installation of the power plant is a major consideration. This paper will focus on the liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr design, an implementation of one such gen iv idea, the molten salt reactor. 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. 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. Pdf liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr is an innovative design for the thermal breeder reactor that has important potential benefits over the. I would like to have some idea of how the system would react to such changes in nuclear geometry. Liquid fluoride thorium reactor lftr is an innovative design for the thermal breeder reactor that has important potential benefits over the traditional reactor design. Alternatively, sign the epetition on the hm government website.
1626 1615 117 174 1188 562 596 619 1460 1549 1298 605 338 604 108 975 571 561 1626 64 1524 1190 632 818 762 603 1532 414 558 1465 1304 419 391 924 55 813 1449 1118 1118