Assessment evaluates neutron behavior and thermal performance of thorium-based fuel in small modular reactors, suggesting improved safety and efficiency.
Key Points
Thorium-based annular fuel achieves a discharge burnup of 166.3-173.5 GWd/t, outperforming conventional solid UO2.
The infinite multiplication factor (k inf ) ranges from 1.002-1.003 at end of cycle, indicating stability in performance.
Analysis utilizes a coupled neutronic and thermal-hydraulic approach across various inner moderator radii for thorough evaluation.
Findings support thorium fuel's feasibility for small modular reactors, presenting improved fuel utilization with safety margins.