The thorium molten salt reactor: Launching the thorium cycle while closing the current fuel cycle

Abstract

Molten salt reactors, in the configuration presented here and called Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR), are particularly well suited to fulfil the criteria defined by the Generation IV forum, and may be operated in simplified and safe conditions in the Th/233U fuel cycle with fluoride salts. The characteristics of TMSRs based on a fast neutron spectrum are detailed in this paper, focusing on their excellent level of deterministic safety. We aimed at designing a critical TMSR able to burn the Plutonium and the Minor Actinides produced in the currently operating reactors, and consequently to convert this Plutonium into 233U. This leads to closing the current fuel cycle thanks to TMSRs started with transuranic elements on a Thorium base, i.e. started in the Th/Pu fuel cycle. We study the transition between the reactors of second and third generations to the Thorium cycle in a European frame. 1.