04-01-2011, 05:35 AM
not really, this is from the wiki page of the
thorium reactor page.
The thorium fuel cycle creates 233U, which, if separated from the reactor's fuel, can be used for making nuclear weapons. This is why a liquid-fuel cycle (e.g., MSR or Molten Salt Reactor) is preferred — only a limited amount of 233U ever exists in the reactor and its heat-transfer systems, preventing any access to weapons material; however the neutrons produced by the reactor can be absorbed by a thorium or uranium blanket and fissile 233U or 239Pu produced. Also, the 233U could be continuously extracted from the molten fuel as the reactor is running.
Since there are no neutrons from spontaneous fission of U-233, solid U-233 can be used easily in a simple gun-type nuclear bomb design.[30] In 1977, a light-water reactor at the Shippingport Atomic Power Station was used to establish a Th232-U233 fuel cycle. The reactor worked until its decommissioning in 1982.[31][32][33] Thorium can be and has been used to power nuclear energy plants using both the modified traditional Generation III reactor design and prototype Generation IV reactor designs. The use of thorium as an alternative fuel is one innovation being explored by the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO),[34] conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
while the page has lots of stuff as to how good it could be it doesn't get away from the fact it' can be used to create nukes. and a more prolific amount because thorium is much more prolific a material from which to derive 233 th. in fact if the above is true thorium can create a continuous stream of u233 which can be harvested for weapons .
considering they had a reactor up and running decades ago and nothing really came of it i'd say there has to be a reason for it.
it shouldn't be hard to upgrade a uranium reactor to a thorium reactor. i personally think it's because the material is so abundant those in the know steered clear from it. jmo
thorium reactor page.
The thorium fuel cycle creates 233U, which, if separated from the reactor's fuel, can be used for making nuclear weapons. This is why a liquid-fuel cycle (e.g., MSR or Molten Salt Reactor) is preferred — only a limited amount of 233U ever exists in the reactor and its heat-transfer systems, preventing any access to weapons material; however the neutrons produced by the reactor can be absorbed by a thorium or uranium blanket and fissile 233U or 239Pu produced. Also, the 233U could be continuously extracted from the molten fuel as the reactor is running.
Since there are no neutrons from spontaneous fission of U-233, solid U-233 can be used easily in a simple gun-type nuclear bomb design.[30] In 1977, a light-water reactor at the Shippingport Atomic Power Station was used to establish a Th232-U233 fuel cycle. The reactor worked until its decommissioning in 1982.[31][32][33] Thorium can be and has been used to power nuclear energy plants using both the modified traditional Generation III reactor design and prototype Generation IV reactor designs. The use of thorium as an alternative fuel is one innovation being explored by the International Project on Innovative Nuclear Reactors and Fuel Cycles (INPRO),[34] conducted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
while the page has lots of stuff as to how good it could be it doesn't get away from the fact it' can be used to create nukes. and a more prolific amount because thorium is much more prolific a material from which to derive 233 th. in fact if the above is true thorium can create a continuous stream of u233 which can be harvested for weapons .
considering they had a reactor up and running decades ago and nothing really came of it i'd say there has to be a reason for it.
it shouldn't be hard to upgrade a uranium reactor to a thorium reactor. i personally think it's because the material is so abundant those in the know steered clear from it. jmo