Thorium for Use in Plutonium Thorium for Use in Plutonium Disposition, Proliferation Disposition, Proliferation

Resistant Fuels, and Future Resistant Fuels, and Future ReactorsReactors

Brian JohnsonBrian JohnsonWISE 2006WISE 2006

ANSANSjohnsob6@onid.orst.edujohnsob6@onid.orst.edu

This presentation focuses on the following This presentation focuses on the following uses of thoriumuses of thorium

Weapons-Grade Weapons-Grade Plutonium dispositionPlutonium disposition

Proliferation-resistant Proliferation-resistant fuels for developing fuels for developing countriescountries

Reaching long-term Reaching long-term goals of U.S. initiativesgoals of U.S. initiatives

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/ees/images/nnp_bomdstobulb.gif http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/images/q/qt-p-nb.gif http://www.usembassy.it/file2006_02/alia/a6022102.jpg http://afci.lanl.gov/images/AFCI_Gold_Logo.jpg http://gif.inel.gov/images/forum_animation_08.gif

History of Weapons-Grade PlutoniumHistory of Weapons-Grade Plutonium

During the Cold War During the Cold War the United States and the United States and Soviet Union made Soviet Union made vast arsenals of vast arsenals of nuclear weaponsnuclear weapons

In 1994 the National In 1994 the National Academy of Science Academy of Science deemed the stockpiles deemed the stockpiles a "clear and present a "clear and present danger to national and danger to national and international security."international security."

http://www.iaea.org/inis/aws/fnss/fulltext/te_1319_31.pdf

U.S./Russia Parallel DispositionU.S./Russia Parallel Disposition

In 2000 the U.S. and Russia formally In 2000 the U.S. and Russia formally agreed to the disposition of 34 metric tons agreed to the disposition of 34 metric tons of weapons-grade plutonium eachof weapons-grade plutonium each

The final form of the plutonium must meet The final form of the plutonium must meet the “spent-fuel standard”the “spent-fuel standard”

Mixed oxide (MOX) fuel using weapons-Mixed oxide (MOX) fuel using weapons-grade plutonium was agreed upon as the grade plutonium was agreed upon as the best methodbest method

MOX WoesMOX Woes

The original goal was to implement MOX The original goal was to implement MOX by 2007 and disposition 2 metric tons per by 2007 and disposition 2 metric tons per yearyear

This goal will not be reached due to lack of This goal will not be reached due to lack of funding in Russia, management problems, funding in Russia, management problems, and delays in the U.S.and delays in the U.S.

The House and Senate have authorized The House and Senate have authorized limited funding until the Secretary of limited funding until the Secretary of Energy can make some certificationsEnergy can make some certifications

Secretary of Energy Must CertifySecretary of Energy Must Certify

1.1. Given Sunk Costs of Given Sunk Costs of MOX, compared to MOX, compared to other technologies other technologies MOX is still the best MOX is still the best optionoption

2.2. The Department of The Department of Energy has an action Energy has an action plan to fix plan to fix management management problemsproblems

1.1. An An independent cost independent cost estimate of the MOX estimate of the MOX project project

2.2. the Department of the Department of Energy intends to use Energy intends to use MOX regardless of MOX regardless of what Russia decides what Russia decides to do to do

House Requirements: Senate Requirements:

Thorium as an optionThorium as an option

Thorium-based fuels Thorium-based fuels designed for plutonium designed for plutonium disposition are more disposition are more than twice as effective than twice as effective at disposing plutonium at disposing plutonium than MOXthan MOX

Fewer, or no Fewer, or no modifications to current modifications to current reactorsreactors

Around two to three Around two to three years from years from implementationimplementation

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Kil

og

ram

s P

er Y

ear

MOX Thorium

Fuel Type

Plutonium Disposition

PlutoniumDischarged atSpent-FuelStandard

PlutoniumBurned

RecommendationRecommendation

A $4 million dollar program pursuing thorium-A $4 million dollar program pursuing thorium-based fuel design for use in U.S. reactors based fuel design for use in U.S. reactors should be pursuedshould be pursued

This could be sponsored by those who have This could be sponsored by those who have supported the funding for the program in supported the funding for the program in Russia, such as Curt WeldonRussia, such as Curt Weldon

http://www.thoriumpower.com/images/elmash%20fuel%20assembly.jpg

Proliferation-Resistant Fuels for Proliferation-Resistant Fuels for Developing CountriesDeveloping Countries

The U.S. outlines a desire in GNEP to help The U.S. outlines a desire in GNEP to help developing countries set up nuclear powerdeveloping countries set up nuclear powerThese facilities will provide potable water, heat These facilities will provide potable water, heat for industrial processes and electricityfor industrial processes and electricityThey are in less secure areas and must be They are in less secure areas and must be inherently more resistant to proliferationinherently more resistant to proliferationSmall reactors with long fuel lives and low Small reactors with long fuel lives and low plutonium output are recommendedplutonium output are recommendedThorium-based fuel designed for proliferation Thorium-based fuel designed for proliferation resistance can meet some of these goalsresistance can meet some of these goals

India, Canada, and Heavy Water India, Canada, and Heavy Water ReactorsReactors

If developing nations are not provided with more If developing nations are not provided with more proliferation resistant technologies they may proliferation resistant technologies they may choose heavy water reactorschoose heavy water reactorsNo need for pressure vesselNo need for pressure vesselNo need for enrichmentNo need for enrichmentSpent-fuel from heavy water reactors contains Spent-fuel from heavy water reactors contains plutonium between weapons-grade and typical plutonium between weapons-grade and typical reactor gradereactor gradeIndia used plutonium from their first heavy water India used plutonium from their first heavy water reactor to build their first weaponreactor to build their first weapon

Features of Thorium-Based Proliferation-Features of Thorium-Based Proliferation-Resistant FuelsResistant Fuels

Annual plutonium output is reduced by a Annual plutonium output is reduced by a factor of 7factor of 7

The fissile percentage in the discharged The fissile percentage in the discharged plutonium is around 60%, compared to plutonium is around 60%, compared to around 70% in typical spent fuelaround 70% in typical spent fuel

Heat generation of plutonium increaseHeat generation of plutonium increase

Weapons made of discharged plutonium Weapons made of discharged plutonium are more likely to “fizzle”are more likely to “fizzle”

RecommendationRecommendation

While thorium-based fuels aren’t a perfect While thorium-based fuels aren’t a perfect answer, it is better to take steps now to answer, it is better to take steps now to assure some extra level of proliferation assure some extra level of proliferation resistanceresistanceSince the fuel design is very similar to the Since the fuel design is very similar to the plutonium disposition design, the research plutonium disposition design, the research program recommended before could also program recommended before could also include a proliferation resistant design at a include a proliferation resistant design at a marginal extra costmarginal extra cost

Long-Term GoalsLong-Term Goals

The Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative as a The Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative as a major part of GNEPmajor part of GNEPGeneration IV InitiativeGeneration IV InitiativeBasic objectivesBasic objectives Reduce WasteReduce Waste Improve EconomicsImprove Economics Improve Proliferation-ResistanceImprove Proliferation-Resistance

Molten Salt Reactor: A Possible Molten Salt Reactor: A Possible SolutionSolution

Meets all goals set Meets all goals set forth by both the forth by both the AFCI and the Gen-IV AFCI and the Gen-IV Initiative, notably a Initiative, notably a top rating in top rating in sustainabilitysustainabilityU.S. operating U.S. operating experience, yet no experience, yet no current fundingcurrent funding http://nuclear.inl.gov/gen4/i/msr.gif

Molten Salt Reactor IssuesMolten Salt Reactor Issues

Technical BarriersTechnical BarriersProliferation resistant Proliferation resistant characteristicscharacteristicsCost to operateCost to operateRecent research on Recent research on AMSTER in France AMSTER in France shows issues to be shows issues to be resolvable especially if resolvable especially if optimized for waste optimized for waste recutionrecution

http://nuclear.inl.gov/gen4/i/msr.gif

RecommendationsRecommendations

The United States must do a modern The United States must do a modern system-wide analysis comparing the system-wide analysis comparing the current GNEP plan to molten salt reactorscurrent GNEP plan to molten salt reactors

If found to be a competitive solution, the If found to be a competitive solution, the United States should fund some research United States should fund some research to advance molten salt reactor technology to advance molten salt reactor technology through the AFCI, Gen-IV, or boththrough the AFCI, Gen-IV, or both

SummarySummary

Thorium technologies could help reach Thorium technologies could help reach some United States political goals and some United States political goals and should be researched for:should be researched for: Plutonium DispositionPlutonium Disposition Proliferation Resistant FuelProliferation Resistant Fuel Molten Salt ReactorMolten Salt Reactor

Questions?Questions?