What happened with the fuel being tested at the research reactors in Petten in the Netherlands in 2008. Why did it fail?
As part of the European Union (EU) development programme, fuel with a higher enrichment produced earlier for the German programme, is being irradiated in Petten to establish if fuel burn-ups higher than those used in the past can be achieved without additional fuel failures. Tests were performed with five fuel spheres relevant to the PBMR fuel. The first four tests were completed successfully with exceptional fuel performance observed. In one test, fuel was tested outside the PBMR operational conditions (burn-up and temperature), and as could be predicted, a single particle failed near the end of the test. All test results were evaluated in depth with PBMR models and published internationally. All observations could be explained, which confirmed the boundaries of the fuel. The fifth test containing both German and Chinese fuel spheres, is still ongoing with excellent fuel performance observed so far.
In the Netherlands, only the FVD is actively promoting the use of thorium, to replace natural gas powered 500 MW installations (ca 20 or so, plus a couple extra to make those ugly windmills go away) And this is a much safer, cheaper, environmentally friendly solution. Energy transition will cost around 1000 billion.
"It went online in 2011 with help from Russia." uh, Russia is not who I would be asking for help with nuclear plants, just sayin ????
Thorium reactors are very safe. And the Russian model is even adding to the conventional design.
About thorium:
http://www.pbmr.com/index2.asp?Content=237
As part of the European Union (EU) development programme, fuel with a higher enrichment produced earlier for the German programme, is being irradiated in Petten to establish if fuel burn-ups higher than those used in the past can be achieved without additional fuel failures. Tests were performed with five fuel spheres relevant to the PBMR fuel. The first four tests were completed successfully with exceptional fuel performance observed. In one test, fuel was tested outside the PBMR operational conditions (burn-up and temperature), and as could be predicted, a single particle failed near the end of the test. All test results were evaluated in depth with PBMR models and published internationally. All observations could be explained, which confirmed the boundaries of the fuel. The fifth test containing both German and Chinese fuel spheres, is still ongoing with excellent fuel performance observed so far.
Take note of the year.
https://newatlas.com/thorium-salt-reactor-experiment/51051/
Take note of the year.
So, there is quite an extensive amount of experience with such reactors.
And, quietly they are being rolled out, and new applications are being designed:
https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2018/08/china-and-russia-looking-at-27-floating-nuclear-reactors-but-thorcon-and-indonesia-could-scale-to-100-per-year.html
In the Netherlands, only the FVD is actively promoting the use of thorium, to replace natural gas powered 500 MW installations (ca 20 or so, plus a couple extra to make those ugly windmills go away) And this is a much safer, cheaper, environmentally friendly solution. Energy transition will cost around 1000 billion.
https://nextbigfuture.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2013/07/tpccanada-1.png
That would translate into: 29 thousand 25 MW reactors .....
More energy than we would ever need in this small patch of dirt taken from the sea.
However, if Iran is moving to Thorium: There is clearly a cost benefit.