Part 1 of 3 Parts
Since the beginning of the Atomic Age over seventy years ago, nuclear engineers have been developing new formulas, shapes and sizes for the nuclear fuel that powers the reactors of the nuclear power plants around the globe. Today, most of the world’s reactors are fueled by enriched uranium. Some analysists believe that tomorrow, nuclear fuel compositions could shift towards the element thorium.
The United States Department of Energy (DOE) Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and the Nuclear Engineering & Science Center at Texas A&M have partnered with Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE) to develop and fabricate a new type of nuclear fuel they call “Advanced Nuclear Energy for Enriched Life”, or ANEEL.
This new fuel is a proprietary combination of thorium (Th) and uranium (U). The uranium component is High Assay Low Enriched Uranium (HALEU). Most of the current nuclear fuel being burned in commercial power reactors is enriched but has less than five percent U-235. HALEU nuclear fuel contains more than five percent U-235 but less than twenty percent. This type of fuel is being developed for next generation advanced nuclear reactors.
ANEEL fuel will be able to solve several problems that have plagued nuclear power. Among them are cost, nuclear proliferation dangers and nuclear waste. In addition, this fuel is made in the U.S. and would be an excellent candidate for export to emerging nuclear markets.
Recently, there has been a growing consensus among some climate scientists that nuclear energy is critical for mitigating the worst effects of global warm. However, there are many climate scientists who do not believe that nuclear power is the solution to climate change. Regardless, many nations and states are moving away from Renewable Energy Mandates to technology-neutral Clear Energy Standards that include nuclear energy.
In developing nations, the need for more energy is urgent. Many do not have the infrastructure to install natural gas, wind or solar power sources. In addition, many do not have sufficient topography and river flow for hydro. It appears that their main choices are coal and nuclear. Nuclear power plants emits much less carbon than coal power plants.
New fuels such as ANEEL may help to increase the attractiveness of nuclear power. The ANEEL fuel can be used in traditional boiling water and pressurized water nuclear power reactors. However, it has great advantages for use in heavy water reactors such as the Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) pressurized heavy water reactor and the pressurized heavy-water reactor (PHWR). What is more important is that is can be developed and deployed quickly when compared with other new fuel choices. CCTE has plans to take this new fuel to the market by 2024.
Mehul Shah is the CEO and Founder of CCTE. He said, "Today, emerging countries and their citizens, ever hungry for the power needed to drive the engines of progress and prosperity, need an abundant and uninterruptible source of clean base-load power. This solution must address multiple key barriers, including cost, efficiency, and sustainability. The urgency of realizing such a vision becomes even more critical as time is lost in the face of an accelerating climate crisis.”
Please read Part 2 next