Thorium was not viable for creating plutonium 239 nuclear weapons.
So there was no need for the for the government to develop it.
An experiment conducted in the 1960s ran a uranium thorium blend fuel that was mostly thorium for commercial power production and it ran flawlessly, using a normal pressurized water reactor with no modifications.
Actually the thorium blend was safer than standard commercial power plant enriched uranium (3% u235) as it produced less iodine 131. Less iodine 131 produces a safer more stable reaction normally achieved by far more expensive high enriched uranium which is your 20% and higher enrighment blends.
__________________
1984 chevy suburban, custom made 6.5L diesel turbocharged with a Garrett T76 and Holset HE351VE, 22:1 compression 13psi of intercooled boost.
1989 firebird mostly stock. Aside from the 6-speed manual trans, corvette gen 5 front brakes, 1LE drive shaft, 4th Gen disc brake fbody rear end.
2011 leaf SL, white, portable 240v CHAdeMO, trailer hitch, new batt as of 2014.
Last edited by oil pan 4; 04-21-2018 at 12:02 PM..
|