A heterogeneous Thorium-based fuel design for a PWR aimed at increasing fuel cycle length
Abstract
A new heterogeneous Thorium based fuel design has been proposed for Pressurised Water Reactors in order to increase fuel cycle lengths. This design incorporates ThO2 pellets which have been included between UO2 fuel pellets to breed fissile U233 through transmutation of Th232.
A heterogeneous design was chosen in order to increase the conversion ratio of the fuel beyond what has been achieved with homogeneous Thorium based fuels. The results of this dissertation have shown that it is possible to introduce this design into an infinite reactor simulation, where a high conversion ratio can be achieved in order to increase the fuel lifetime and thereby increase the fuel cycle lengths.
The use of different fuel configurations have been explored to develop a concept design which can serve as a proof of concept for further development. This design has undergone preliminary optimisation steps and shows promise as an advanced fuel design. However, the occurrence of energy peaks within the fuel lattice causes some concerns for safety.
The concept design studied for this dissertation has provided positive results and due consideration for further development is strongly advised. Some safety concerns have been addressed, but the use of Thorium based fuels is still met with major challenges and concerns which could not be addressed within the given time for this study.
Collections
- Engineering [1395]
Related items
Showing items related by title, author, creator and subject.
-
The temperature coefficient of a PWR based on an in-rod heterogeneous thorium/uranium fuel design
Blennies, Atlegang Reginald (North-West University (South Africa)., 2023)The effect of temperature change in nuclear reactors is of high importance due to the influence on the reactivity of the reactor and its implication for reactor safety. The temperature coefficient of reactivity due to ... -
The metathesis activity and deactivation of heterogeneous metal oxide catalytic systems
Moodley, Denzil James (North-West University, 2003)During this investigation it was found that the 8 wt% W03/SiO2 catalyst was effective for the metathetical conversion of 1-octene or 1-heptene to longer chain internal olefins in the detergent range. Various factors were ... -
COVID-19 across Africa: epidemiologic heterogeneity and necessity of contextually relevant transmission models and intervention strategies
Rwema, Jean Olivier Twahirwa; Phaswana-Mafuya, Nancy; Diouf, Daouda; Rusatira, Jean Christophe; Manouan, Alain (American College of Physicians, 2020)Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly emerged as a global public health threat with epicenters in regions of China, parts of Europe, and larger urban centers across North America (1). By comparison, population-level ...