Thorium Nuclear Energy: How Electricity is Produced, Advantages, and Future Potential
Learn how thorium nuclear energy works, its advantages, reactor types, and future potential for power
Thorium Nuclear Energy: How Electricity is Produced, Advantages, and Future Potential
Thorium is an alternative nuclear fuel that holds great promise for future energy generation. Unlike uranium-based nuclear power, thorium offers enhanced safety, greater fuel abundance, and reduced long-lived nuclear waste. Thorium reactors work by harnessing the energy released from nuclear fission, converting it into heat, and subsequently producing electricity through conventional thermodynamic cycles. The thorium fuel cycle is gaining attention as a viable option to complement or replace uranium-based nuclear reactors due to its potential to address concerns related to nuclear safety, proliferation, and sustainability.
Understanding Thorium as a Nuclear Fuel Thorium (Th-232) is a naturally occurring, fertile material, meaning it is not directly fissile like Uranium-235 or Plutonium-239. However, when exposed to neutrons, thorium undergoes a nuclear reaction that converts it into Uranium-233 (U-233), which is fissile and can sustain a nuclear chain reaction. Thorium Fuel Cycle Neutron…
About the author
Prasun Barua is a graduate engineer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering with a passion for simplifying complex technical concepts for learners and professionals alike. He has authored numerous highly regarded books covering a wide range of elec…
