Chase Oliphant

LFT REACTORS

What
Liquid fluoride thorium reactor Molten salt reactor

Molten salt reactor

Fission reactor where primary coolant and/or

fuel is molten salt (UF4)

Breeding
Small amounts of fissile material Larger amounts of fertile Fertile material needs neutrons from fissile to

become fissile Uranium-233 (fissile) Thorium-232 (fertile) MSR breed more fissile than they use, unlike LWR

Benefits
More abundant than U (4x)
U.S. has ~ 400,000 T(2nd)

Reacts at higher temp Much safer Less waste (less dangerous) Cheaper

Downside
Little development Waste cant be used to make weapons

Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_fluoride_t

horium_reactor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molten_salt_reac tor http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoriumbased_nuclear_power