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Fabrication Technologies for ThO2-based Fuel

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Book cover Thoria-based Nuclear Fuels

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

Fuel fabrication technology, particularly once through utilization of uranium, has been mastered over the years. However, with the increasing demand of electricity at an affordable cost and depleting resources of uranium, introduction of thorium in the fuel cycle has become essential. The large-scale utilization of thorium requires adoption of closed fuel cycle scheme. Many of the fuel cycle technologies developed for uranium can be readily adopted for thorium, however, the man-rem problem associated with this fuel is a major concern. Therefore, fuel fabricators have, in recent past, initiated new R&D programs to solve this problem either through elimination of powder handling or making the unit operations of the production process amenable to remote handling and automation.

The status of development of these processes worldwide will be discussed in this chapter. Each process will be discussed in detail and its ability to achieve the desired objectives, particular related to reduction of man-rem exposure to the operator, will be critically reviewed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India

    S. K. Mukerjee, T. R. G. Kutty, N. Kumar, Rajesh V. Pai & Arun Kumar

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  1. S. K. Mukerjee
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  2. T. R. G. Kutty
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  3. N. Kumar
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  4. Rajesh V. Pai
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  5. Arun Kumar
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Correspondence to S. K. Mukerjee .

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  1. Mumbai, India

    Dasarathi Das

  2. Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Chemistry Division, Trombay, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

    S. R. Bharadwaj

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Mukerjee, S.K., Kutty, T.R.G., Kumar, N., Pai, R.V., Kumar, A. (2013). Fabrication Technologies for ThO2-based Fuel. In: Das, D., Bharadwaj, S. (eds) Thoria-based Nuclear Fuels. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5589-8_6

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