China Achieves Thorium-Uranium Fuel Conversion in Molten Salt Reactor
The Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has completed the first-ever conversion of thorium to uranium fuel in its experimental Thorium Molten Salt Reactor (TMSR).
Significant Progress in Thorium Fuel Technology
Following the loading of thorium fuel, SINAP obtained valid experimental data confirming the technical feasibility of using thorium in molten salt nuclear reactors. The TMSR, which has a power capacity of 2 MW, was developed in cooperation with several Chinese institutions and is located in Wuwei City, Gansu Province.
Unique Operational Reactor
This molten salt reactor currently stands out as the only operational reactor globally that is loaded with thorium fuel, marking a significant advancement in nuclear energy technology.
Milestone for Thorium Utilisation
- The successful thorium-uranium conversion represents a critical milestone in the development of the TMSR.
- It offers essential technical support and a practical solution for China's large-scale thorium resource development and advanced nuclear energy.
- This breakthrough lays the groundwork for future demonstration reactors and commercial applications of thorium-based nuclear systems.
"Featuring thorium-uranium conversion, it is the first time in the world that thorium was added to a molten-salt reactor, demonstrating the feasibility of our thorium resources utilisation. It is also a unique thorium-uranium cycle research platform in the world, laying a solid foundation for the construction of demonstration reactors and relevant commercial development in the future," said SINAP Director Dai Zhimin.
Author’s summary: China’s successful thorium-to-uranium conversion in its unique molten salt reactor sets a pioneering milestone, supporting the future of advanced nuclear energy and commercial thorium use.
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