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Properties and Applications of Rare Earth Oxides, Alloys, and Compounds
Published in A. R. Jha, Deployment of Rare Earth Materials in Microware Devices, RF Transmitters, and Laser Systems, 2019
Comprehensive research and development studies undertaken by scientists during the 1950s and 1960s reveal that uranium-based power plants for generating electricity would be more expensive and it would require four to five years to complete the erection phase in comparison to thorium-based power plants. The studies further revealed that cooling the reactor, nuclear waste storage, and long-term radiation issues would be more expensive for uranium-based power plants. Because of these problems, nuclear scientists came to the following conclusions:Synthesis, structure, reactivity, and computational studies on thorium must be taken to comprehend the outstanding problems.Thorough scientific studies undertaken by nuclear scientists during the 1950s and 1960s show that uranium-based power reactors have more radiation, cooling, and storage of nuclear wastage problems compared to thorium-based nuclear power reactors. Furthermore, reactor cooling and radiation problems will be more severe. It is critically important to mention that uranium-based electrical power-generating plants will cost 4 to 5 million dollars and at least four years will be required to complete the erection phase depending on the electrical power-generating capability.Interaction of thorium with nitrate solution is critical and another solution is needed to avoid adverse solution problems.A cryogenic beam of refractory and chemically reactive molecules with expansion during cooling mode should be given serious consideration.Gamma-ray laser capable of emitting in the optical spectral range should be deployed in conducting optical experiments.Gamma-spectrometric analysis is simple and safe in thorium-based reactors.Background radiation levels must be kept as low as possible for the scientists and engineers.Medical-related problems due to reactor radiation level and dust concentration level analysis in non-coal mining must be undertaken to determine whether reactor radiation danger is more lethal than dust-related problems.Radiation exposure evaluation based on scientific measurements undertaken for occupational hygiene at research laboratories in Poland from 2001 to 2005 seems to indicate that exposure to fast neutrons in the vicinity of the nuclear reactor zone is most serious and scientific personnel must avoid such zones.
Safe, clean, proliferation resistant and cost-effective Thorium-based Molten Salt Reactors for sustainable development
Published in International Journal of Sustainable Energy, 2022
Perhaps one of the most informative and balanced reports concerning thorium-based nuclear power is (IAEA 2005), although not all are relevant for TMSR. A good report for laymen is (OECD/NEA 2015), where they have clearly separated TMSR from LWR technologies and written in less technical jargon. This paper uses both reports as a point of departure and adds other insights to provide a balanced view concerning the benefits and challenges of TMSRs. To increase the readability, each new topic starts as a paragraph with the key phrase in bold.