Greneche, Dominique (Nuclear Consulting (FR))

In this engineering-oriented publication, the author first gives reviews the motivations for the use of thorium-based fuel cycle: comparison with uranium-based fuel cycle, thorium and uranium characteristics, thorium physical properties, current use of thorium (out of nuclear industry), and thorium abundance and natural resources. He recalls the history of the development of thorium-based cycle: experimental use of thorium in reactor, motivations and obstacles during the development of thorium-based cycle, current status of this development. Then, the author proposes a detailed presentation of technical characteristics of the thorium-based fuel cycle, while outlining the associated industrial challenges: front-end of fuel cycle (mining, concentration, fuel fabrication), characteristics and behaviour of thorium-based fuels in reactors (general neutronics properties, fuel behaviour under irradiation, management of nuclear materials, plutonium consumption), and back-end of the fuel cycle (processing, U-233 recycling, waste warehousing and storage). The last part addresses non-proliferation and economic issues related to the development of thorium-based fuel cycle