Fast Reactors and Accelerator Driven Systems Knowledge Base

IAEA-TECDOC--1155: Thorium based fuel options for the generation of electricity: Developments in the 1990s

International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna (Austria)

Abstract

The IAEA has maintained an interest in the thorium fuel cycle and its worldwide utilization within its framework of activities. Periodic reviews have assessed the current status of this fuel cycle, worldwide applications, economic benefits, and perceived advantages with respect to other nuclear fuel cycles. Since 1994, the IAEA convened a number of technical meetings on the thorium fuel cycle and related issues. Between 1995 and 1997 individual contributions on the thorium fuel cycle were elicited from experts from France, Germany, India, Japan, the Russian Federation and the USA. These contributions included evaluations of the status of the thorium fuel cycle worldwide. The new incentives to use thorium due to large stockpiles of plutonium produced in nuclear reactors. New reactor concepts utilizing thorium. Strategies for thorium use. And an evaluation of toxicity of the thorium fuel cycle waste compared to that from other fuel cycles. The results of this updated evaluation are summarized in this publication

view the full text of this report (format: PDF, size= 8802kB, 111 pages)