【新华社】燃料从“铀”到“钍”！我国实现钍基熔盐堆研发突破

Core Insights - The establishment of a 2 MW liquid fuel thorium molten salt experimental reactor marks a significant advancement in nuclear fuel diversification from uranium to thorium, making it the only operational molten salt reactor globally that incorporates thorium fuel [2][3] Group 1: Technological Advancements - The thorium molten salt reactor utilizes thorium as fuel and high-temperature molten salt as a coolant, offering advantages such as no water cooling, operation at atmospheric pressure, and high-temperature output [2][3] - The project began in 2011 under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, focusing on advanced nuclear fission energy systems, with a collaborative team overcoming numerous technical challenges to transition from laboratory research to engineering validation [3] Group 2: Future Goals - The team aims to establish a 100 MW thorium molten salt reactor demonstration project by 2035, accelerating technology iteration and engineering transformation to provide a safe and reliable thorium-based energy generation pathway for the country [4]