- It has several advantages over uranium reactors, including safety, reduced waste, better fuel efficiency and suitability for use in arid landlocked areas
- The tech is expected to strengthen China’s energy security as the nation has abundant thorium reserves
China’s nuclear safety watchdog has issued an operational permit for the nation’s first thorium reactor, marking a significant milestone in the country’s pursuit of advanced nuclear technologies.
The reactor, a two-megawatt liquid-fuelled thorium molten salt reactor (MSR), is located in the Gobi Desert city of Wuwei in Gansu province and is operated by the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The permit, issued by the National Nuclear Safety Administration on June 7, allows the Shanghai Institute to operate the reactor for 10 years and it will start by testing operations.
The permit specifies that the Shanghai Institute is responsible for the safety of the reactor and must comply with all relevant laws, regulations and technical standards.
Thorium MSRs are a type of advanced nuclear technology that use liquid fuels, typically molten salts, as both a fuel and a coolant. They offer several potential advantages over traditional uranium reactors, including increased safety, reduced waste and improved fuel efficiency.
Thorium is also a more abundant resource compared with uranium, and China has significant thorium reserves.
The reactor is a significant achievement for China’s nuclear energy sector, according to experts in China’s nuclear industry who asked not to be named because they were not authorised to speak to the media. They said it showed the country’s progress in developing and deploying advanced nuclear technologies and positioned China as a potential leader in thorium reactor technology.
The Shanghai Institute has also launched a follow-up project – a small-scale modular thorium molten salt reactor research facility – at the same desert site to advance the technology and address technical challenges, according to information on the institute’s website.
Small-scale modular reactors offer several benefits, including flexibility, enhanced safety features and cost-effectiveness, according to the institute.
The large-scale use of thorium reactor technology has the potential to enhance China’s global competitiveness in the energy sector. It could strengthen China’s energy security, position the country as a leader in advanced nuclear technologies and contribute to environmental sustainability.
However, a number of technical, regulatory and economic challenges will have to be overcome if the reactors are to be deployed successfully on a large scale, according to industry experts.
Previous attempts failed
The project was launched in 2011, but construction did not start until 2018.
Its groundbreaking ceremony made national headlines because the construction contractor hired Taoist monks to pray for heavenly blessings for the hi-tech project.
The reactor was expected to take six years to build, but scientists and engineers completed the work in about three years afte r the work went more smoothly than expected.
It took environmental authorities more than two years to confirm that the facility met the highest safety standards, according to the permit.
China is not the first country to build a thorium reactor, but no previous attempts went beyond the experimental stage.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in the United States conducted the Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment from 1965 to 1969, successfully showing the feasibility of a thorium MSR. However, it did not progress to commercial use because of a combination of factors, including limited funding and shifting priorities.
Another early thorium MSR project, also conducted by the ORNL in the 1950s, was the Aircraft Reactor Experiment, which aimed to develop a compact, portable reactor for potential use in aircraft. But the project faced technical challenges, including issues with fuel containment and corrosion, which ultimately led to its discontinuation.
India has also been pursuing thorium-based nuclear technologies, including MSRs. The Indian Molten Salt Breeder Reactor project, initiated in the 1980s, aimed to develop a thorium-based breeder reactor.
However, the project has faced challenges related to materials compatibility, fuel reprocessing and overall system complexity and has not progressed to commercial-scale use.
Going critical
According to the information provided in the permit, the thorium MSR will undergo test operations after the initial loading of fuel.
The test includes the first approach to criticality, the point at which a nuclear reaction becomes self-sustaining. This is a crucial step in the reactor’s start-up process and involves carefully controlled conditions to ensure a safe progression towards a self-sustaining state.
Another test involves intentionally taking the reactor out of operation or reducing its power level below 90 per cent of its maximum capacity. It is important to have control over this process to ensure that the reactor is operating within safe limits and that any changes or adjustments are approved and monitored.
A test report should be submitted to the National Nuclear Safety Administration within two months of completing all the experiments specified in the testing plan, according to the permit.
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From uranium to thorium
China is believed to have one of the largest thorium reserves in the world. The exact size of those reserves has not been publicly disclosed, but it is estimated to be enough to meet the country’s total energy needs for more than 20,000 years.
The abundance of the resource makes it an attractive option for China. If molten salt reactors prove to be successful and viable for commercial deployment, they could help expand China’s nuclear energy supply to inland cities.
One of the advantages of thorium MSRs is their flexibility in terms of location.
The use of molten salts as both a fuel and a coolant allows for more efficient heat transfer and potentially eliminates the need for large quantities of water, which is a significant advantage in areas where water resources are limited.
By using thorium MSRs, China could potentially establish nuclear power plants in cities far from coastal areas. This could help diversify the country’s energy mix, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and meet the growing energy demand from inland regions.
While China has made progress in the development and implementation of thorium MSR technology, several nuclear experts noted this did not necessarily mean all technological challenges had been overcome.
Developing and deploying new nuclear technologies, including thorium MSRs, can be expensive. The launch of the Shanghai Institute’s small-scale modular thorium molten salt reactor project indicates China is interested in further reducing the cost of the technology, they said.
Thse reactors are typically built in a factory and then transported to the site for installation. They can be installed in many types of environments, including remote or off-grid areas. Their smaller size enables easier scalability, allowing for incremental capacity additions based on energy demand.
This modular approach to building and installation can potentially reduce construction costs and project timelines. The ability to manufacture components in a factory setting and transport them to the site can streamline the construction process and improve cost efficiency.
China reportedly plans to sell small thorium reactors to other countries as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, Beijing’s global infrastructure plan.
They can provide a nuclear entry point for countries or regions with smaller energy demands or limited grid infrastructure. Their smaller capacity and modular nature makes them more accessible and financially viable for these markets.
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