Thorium Fuel vs. Other Nuclear Fuels
Thorium fuel is different than uranium or plutonium, in several different ways. How it burns in a reactor, how it decays, and the waste it produces are the key differences.
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Fertile vs. FissileIn it's natural state, thorium is found as thorium-232. It decays in a cycle, which means it is not instantly usable in a reactor.
Thorium is a fertile fuel, which means the reaction will not lose control of itself if left unattended. Uranium is a fissile fuel, which means that once it starts burning, it will continue on its own if unhindered. A nuclear reactor using a fissile fuel must use control rods to control the reaction. |
More Difficult to Weaponize
It is a legitimate concern that if nuclear energy were more commonplace, uranium would become more commonplace, and would therefore create a higher chance of weapons creation. Thorium is not weaponizable in its natural state. It is possible, but difficult to alter to become usable in a weapon application.
Even Cheaper than Uranium
Thorium is both more easily accessible and more plentiful in the earths crust than uranium. Most of the uranium mined today is gathered from underground mines, while most thorium mines are open pits, which makes it safer to mine. Both of these factors make it cheaper to obtain and use.
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