The Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics - part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences - has been given approval by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment to commission an experimental thorium-powered molten-salt reactor, construction of which started in Wuwei city, Gansu province, in September 2018.
One of the reasons that thorium is a much better fuel is the waste profile. It produces far less waste, and the waste that it does produce has a much shorter half-life. It also produces a lot of isotopes that are useful for medical purposes like cancer treatments.
Yeah great point, I also read that molten salt is safer than water coolant because it turns solid when the reaction stops. So, you don’t have to worry about it leaking into the soil and contaminating the environment.
One of the reasons that thorium is a much better fuel is the waste profile. It produces far less waste, and the waste that it does produce has a much shorter half-life. It also produces a lot of isotopes that are useful for medical purposes like cancer treatments.
And another great thing about LFTRs is that they don’t use water as coolant, so they can safely operate in situations of drought, and even in deserts.
A powered grid that would utilize mostly this type of reactor wouldn’t face the types of problems the French grid did during this summer’s heat waves.
All in all, a promising technology.
Yeah great point, I also read that molten salt is safer than water coolant because it turns solid when the reaction stops. So, you don’t have to worry about it leaking into the soil and contaminating the environment.