Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
A sample of thorium. Thorium-based nuclear power generation is fueled primarily by the nuclear fission of the isotope uranium-233 produced from the fertile element thorium.A thorium fuel cycle can offer several potential advantages over a uranium fuel cycle [Note 1] —including the much greater abundance of thorium found on Earth, superior physical and nuclear fuel properties, and reduced ...
Thorium is a future potential source of low-carbon energy. [1] Thorium has been demonstrated to perform as a nuclear fuel in several reactor designs. [2] [3] It is present with a higher abundance than uranium in the crust of the earth. Thorium resources have not been estimated and assessed with a higher level of confidence, as in the case of ...
Thorium is a chemical element. It has the symbol Th and atomic number 90. Thorium is a weakly radioactive light silver metal which tarnishes olive gray when it is exposed to air, forming thorium dioxide; it is moderately soft and malleable and has a high melting point. Thorium is an electropositive actinide whose chemistry is dominated by the ...
The thorium fuel cycle is a nuclear fuel cycle that uses an isotope of thorium, 232. Th. , as the fertile material. In the reactor, 232. Th. is transmuted into the fissile artificial uranium isotope 233. U. which is the nuclear fuel. Unlike natural uranium, natural thorium contains only trace amounts of fissile material (such as 231.
Thorium ( 90 Th) has seven naturally occurring isotopes but none are stable. One isotope, 232 Th, is relatively stable, with a half-life of 1.405×10 10 years, considerably longer than the age of the Earth, and even slightly longer than the generally accepted age of the universe. This isotope makes up nearly all natural thorium, so thorium was ...
Thorium-232 ( 232. Th. ) is the main naturally occurring isotope of thorium, with a relative abundance of 99.98%. It has a half life of 14 billion years, which makes it the longest-lived isotope of thorium. It decays by alpha decay to radium-228; its decay chain terminates at stable lead-208 . Thorium-232 is a fertile material; it can capture a ...
Light-water reactors designed to run on thorium offer increased proliferation resistance compared to the conventional uranium cycle, though molten salt reactors have a substantial risk. [66] [67] SMRs are transported from the factories without fuel, as they are fueled on the ultimate site, except some microreactors. [68]
Thorium Energy Alliance ( TEA) is a non-governmental, non-profit 501 (c)3, educational organization based in the United States, which seeks to promote energy security of the world through the use of thorium as a fuel source. The potential for the use of thorium was studied extensively during the 1950s and 60s, [1] and now worldwide interest is ...