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Instead of Uranium, this nuclear power station uses thorium as fuel.
- Its reactor does not need water for cooling because it utilizes liquid salt or carbon dioxide to transfer heat and make electricity.
- Unlike the water-cooling model, this design significantly reduces the chances of meltdowns.
Thorium as a Fuel
- Thorium, a naturally occurring element with radioactivity, is found at trace levels in soil, rocks, water, plants and animals.
- Due to its physical characteristics, thorium cannot be used directly to produce nuclear energy. It has to be first converted to U-233 in a nuclear reactor.
Significance of Thorium based reactors
- Abundant Supply unlike Uranium. In India, Kerala and Odisha have rich reserves of monazite, which contains about 8 – 10% thorium.
- Monazite is also prominent in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Jharkhand.
- Chemically safe, due to higher melting point, better thermal conductivity, better fuel performance characteristics, chemical inertness and stability.
- Environmentally safe, generates lesser toxic and short-lived radioactive wastes.
Role of Thorium in India’s Nuclear Programme
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