A Preliminary Economic Assessment of Thorium-Based Fuels in a Pressure Tube Heavy Water Reactor

España, Alberto D. Mendoza; Moore, Megan; Colton, Ashlea V.; Bromley, Blair P.

doi:10.1080/00295450.2018.1424431

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Recent work by Colton et al [172,173] identified a slightly enriched uranium fuel concept augmented by small amounts of thorium for use in generic pressure tube heavy-water reactors (PT-HWRs) [174]. This concept and others [175,176], may have fuel costs lower than natural uranium fuel. Future work can build on these results by providing more comprehensive estimated life cycle costs and consider a comparison to additional fuel concepts, which can also meet operational safety needs [177][178][179][180][181].…”

Section: Developing More Economical Thorium-based Fuel Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, in the case of Ontario, Canada, nuclear power generation remains more economical than, for instance, gas and wind by approximately 51% and 49%, respectively [214]. In addition, a recent preliminary study suggests a recycling fuel cycle could be still leave nuclear power generation potentially more economic than fossil fuel and renewables [176], which could be important to nations with limited uranium resources and polices aimed at diversifying their fuel types and sources. The competitive advantage of nuclear power generation has not impeded companies such as Bruce Power (in Ontario) from seeking alternatives revenue streams, such as producing isotopes [215].…”

Section: Potential Ways To Overcome the Re-fabrication And Reprocessimentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Canadian Perspective of the Economic Issues Associated With Deploying Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles and Breeding in Heavy-Water Reactors

España

Bromley

2019

CNL Nuclear Review

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To meet future global needs for energy and green technology, it is prudent to identify energy sources and technology that may potentially be economically beneficial. Thorium-based fuels with nuclear technology, such as the Canadian heavy-water reactor, have been proposed as a way to meet those global needs, though economic challenges persist in deploying thorium-based fuels. Therefore, economic strategies to overcome the economic challenges in deploying thorium-based fuels are needed. To identify potential strategies for advancing the deployment of thorium-based fuels, this paper conducts a historical examination of the economics of thorium fuel cycles to identify economic factors that can influence a country’s development of thorium-based fuel cycles. In particular, this paper reviews the economic issues associated with Canada’s experience in deploying thorium-based fuel cycles. The study finds that the existence of natural resources and the associated price, a nuclear fuel cycle’s costs, a country’s international trade balance position and economic growth policies, the profitability of the electrical power and nuclear industry, and the technical and economical characteristics of the nuclear reactor developed in a country may all influence the adoption of a thorium-based fuel cycle. Furthermore, recent advancements in developing thorium-based fuel cycles are suggested as a possible way of bridging the technical and economic gap between near-term and long-term implementation of thorium-based fuel cycles that may overcome current economic challenges.

show abstract

Section: Developing More Economical Thorium-based Fuel Conceptsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Potential Ways To Overcome the Re-fabrication And Reprocessimentioning

confidence: 99%

A Canadian Perspective of the Economic Issues Associated With Deploying Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles and Breeding in Heavy-Water Reactors

España

Bromley

2019

CNL Nuclear Review

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Study of natural uranium utilization in a heavy water moderated molten salt reactor

Zou

et al. 2022

Progress in Nuclear Energy

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Steady-State Subchannel Thermal-Hydraulic Assessment of Proposed Thorium Fuel Designs

Dominguez

Rao

2018

Nuclear Technology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A Preliminary Economic Assessment of Thorium-Based Fuels in a Pressure Tube Heavy Water Reactor

Cited by 7 publications

References 11 publications

A Canadian Perspective of the Economic Issues Associated With Deploying Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles and Breeding in Heavy-Water Reactors

A Canadian Perspective of the Economic Issues Associated With Deploying Thorium-Based Fuel Cycles and Breeding in Heavy-Water Reactors

Study of natural uranium utilization in a heavy water moderated molten salt reactor

Steady-State Subchannel Thermal-Hydraulic Assessment of Proposed Thorium Fuel Designs

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About