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Ahmed Shaker
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I have done some reading on the utilization of Thorium in fast reactors, but the doubling time for breeding ranges from 20 to 80 years, is there any solid material on the subject? Just curious.
It's a matter of the magnitude of absorption cross-section as a function of energy. The lower the absorption cross-section, the longer is takes for a given mass/number of fertile nuclei to absorb neutrons, which then initiates the decay process to something hopefully more fissionable. Thermal and epithermal systems have a population of neutrons in the resonance absorption range (1 eV to 3 keV) where the absorption cross-sections can be two or three orders of magnitude greater than those in the MeV range. The thermal energy range below 1 eV has an increasing magnitude as neutron energy decreases.Ahmed Shaker said:I have done some reading on the utilization of Thorium in fast reactors, but the doubling time for breeding ranges from 20 to 80 years, is there any solid material on the subject? Just curious.
Not really, just wanted some broad information. But I have all that I need now.QuantumPion said:Do you have a specific question?
Thorium doubling time is the amount of time it takes for the amount of thorium in a fast reactor to double. This is a measure of the efficiency of utilizing thorium as a nuclear fuel source.
Thorium doubling time is calculated by dividing the amount of thorium in the reactor by the rate at which it is consumed. This rate is determined by the reactor's neutron flux and the efficiency of the fuel cycle.
The thorium doubling time is important because it determines the efficiency of using thorium as a nuclear fuel source. A shorter doubling time means that thorium is being utilized more efficiently and is a more viable option for sustainable nuclear energy production.
Compared to other nuclear fuel sources, thorium has a longer doubling time. This means that it takes longer for the amount of thorium in a fast reactor to double compared to other fuels, such as uranium. However, thorium has the potential for a much longer fuel cycle and produces less nuclear waste, making it a more sustainable option in the long run.
One of the challenges in achieving a shorter thorium doubling time is developing and optimizing the fuel cycle and reactor design. Additionally, thorium has a lower neutron capture cross-section compared to uranium, so more efficient neutron moderation and utilization techniques must be developed to decrease the doubling time.