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?
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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
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