Liquid Fueled Thorium Reactors without equations (Rob Morse)

Liquid Fueled Thorium Reactors without equations ∑x<+-=-*± An overview of liquid-fueled liquid-cooled thermal spectrum Thorium breeder reactors and why they matter.

Rob Morse Science Engineer- Nuclear Option 19 October 2009 1

Power makes a difference.

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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The Necessities  Self regulating when it is ON  Passively safe when it is OFF  Inherently safe in case of an ACCIDENT

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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Fuel for a lifetime?

You consume a ball of coal 10 meters in diameterâ&#x20AC;Ś

â&#x20AC;Śor a ball or thorium 37mm in diameter.

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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Moderation and nuclear probabilities Neutron Cross Sections

barns (10e-28 m-sq)

500 400 300 200 100 0 Fast U-233 fission

Fast Thorium absobtion Thermal U-233 fission

Thermal Thorium absorbtion

>>Fast to Slow>>

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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Speed?

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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What does it mean if a reactor is extremely temperature stable?

A power plant with a built in thermostat! inlet

outlet

fuel-coolant reactivity temperature

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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Improved reactor design

reactivity temperature LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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The Reactor at “idle”

Closed Loop Cooling

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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An Efficient Design Little or no radioactive waste No bomb materials Low cost per power delivered A small physical size A wide choice of building sites.

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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Size matters!

Your nuclear waste is the size of a few grains of rice!

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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Lets Make Power

 The heat transfer fluid (molten salt) is at low pressure.  We can use a gas cycle, like a jet engine, at high temperature.

– This means they can have high efficiency, a 50% reduction in power rejected to the environment per power delivered to the electric grid.

 These plants can run at partial load.

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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THE WORLD IS FLAWED

LFTR wo Equations. Thorium power conference, Oct 2009

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