Thorium Molten-Salt Nuclear Energy Synergetics

TLDR

The fission breeder concept is unlikely to be practical for addressing global energy and environmental challenges in the coming century. The authors propose the Thorium Molten‑Salt Nuclear Energy Synergetics (THORIMS‑NES) system, a simple thorium molten‑salt breeding fuel cycle with integrated power stations and fissile producers. The system achieves simple operation, maintenance, and chemical processing through a rational breeding fuel cycle, exemplified by the 155 MWe FUJI‑II station, 7 MWe miniFUJI‑II pilot plant, and 1 GeV‑300 mA AMSB accelerator. The THORIMS‑NES approach improves resource utilization, safety, power‑size flexibility, non‑proliferation, waste handling, and economics while enabling simple operation, maintenance, and chemical processing.

Abstract

In the next century, the “fission breeder” concept will not be practical to solve the global energy problems, including environmental and North-South problems. As a new measure, a simple rational Th molten salt breeding fuel cycle system, named “Thorium Molten-Salt Nuclear Energy Synergetics [THORIMS-NES]”, which composed of simple power stations and fissile producers, is proposed. This is effective to establish the essential improvement in issues of resources, safety, power-size flexibility, anti-nuclear proliferation and terrorism, radiowaste, economy, etc. securing the simple operation, maintenance, chemical processing, and rational breeding fuel cycle. securing the simple operation, maintenance, chemical processing, and rational breeding fuel cycle. As examples, 155 MWe fuel self-sustaining power station “FUJI-II”, 7 MWe pilot-plant “miniFUJI-II”, 1 GeV-300 mA proton Accelerator Molten-Salt Breeder “AMSB”, and their combined fuel cycle system are explained.