更重要的是，它的安全性极高。不同于大多需在高压下工作的核反应堆，钍基熔盐堆是常压运行， 熔盐在温度升高时会自动膨胀抑制反应，从根本上避免了高压爆炸的可能性。即使发生意外，熔盐也会 遇冷凝固，不会出现堆芯熔毁导致大量放射性物质释放的情况。 不仅如此，除了发电，高温运行的钍基熔盐堆还能"一堆多用"。"目前，这座钍基熔盐堆的运行温 度是700摄氏度，这个运行温度正好可以实现高温制氢、制甲醇。"上海应物所副所长蔡翔舟说，钍基熔 盐堆是清洁高效能源系统，有助于构建多能互补低碳复合能源系统，为我国能源安全提供全新解决方 案。 "这意味着核能发电不仅可以烧铀，烧钍也是可行的。"上海应物所所长、钍基熔盐堆核能系统战略 性先导科技专项负责人戴志敏表示，我国钍资源极其丰富，研发钍基熔盐堆、实现钍资源的工业应用， 可以在战略上实现能源独立。 "与传统核电站相比，钍基熔盐实验堆具有固有安全、无水冷却、常压工作和高温输出等优点。"戴 志敏举例，比如，很多核电站建在海边，一个重要原因是其运行过程中会产生巨大热量，需要大量的水 进行冷却，以保证运行安全。但钍基熔盐堆采用高温液态熔盐作为冷却剂，无需外部水源补给，建在内 陆干旱地区也可以。 ...

Core Viewpoint - The establishment of the world's first operational thorium-based molten salt reactor in Gansu, China, marks a significant advancement in nuclear energy technology, enabling the diversification of nuclear fuel from uranium to thorium [6][10]. Group 1: Technology Overview - The thorium-based molten salt reactor operates using thorium as fuel and high-temperature molten salt as a coolant, representing a fourth-generation advanced nuclear energy system [5]. - This technology allows for a sustainable "thorium-uranium fuel cycle," where thorium-232 absorbs neutrons and transforms into uranium-233, releasing substantial energy with reduced nuclear waste [9][10]. - The reactor's output temperature ranges from 650°C to 700°C, with a thermal-to-electric conversion efficiency of 40% to 60% [9]. Group 2: Advantages and Integration - Thorium is a naturally occurring, less radioactive metal, which can be efficiently converted into usable nuclear fuel, addressing China's reliance on imported uranium [5][9]. - The molten salt reactor can be integrated with renewable energy sources such as solar and wind, creating a low-carbon composite energy system [5][9]. Group 3: Domestic Development and Supply Chain - The overall domestic production rate of the molten salt reactor exceeds 90%, with all key equipment being 100% domestically produced, ensuring a self-sufficient supply chain [10]. - Significant advancements have been made in the development of critical materials, such as high-temperature nickel-based alloys and nuclear graphite, which are essential for reactor safety and longevity [10]. Group 4: Historical Context and Future Prospects - The project has a historical background dating back to the 1971 "728" project, which initially aimed to develop molten salt reactors but was shelved due to technological limitations at the time [11]. - The current experimental reactor is the first step in a planned three-phase development, with future goals including a 30 MW research reactor and a 100 MW demonstration reactor for efficient power generation [15].

Core Insights - The 2 megawatt liquid fuel thorium-based molten salt experimental reactor, led by the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has achieved thorium-uranium fuel conversion, marking the first time in the world that experimental data has been obtained from a thorium molten salt reactor after operation, establishing it as the only operational molten salt reactor utilizing thorium fuel globally [1][4] Group 1 - Thorium is a weakly radioactive silver metal that naturally occurs in rocks, and the thorium-based molten salt reactor is a fourth-generation advanced nuclear energy system that uses 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 [1][4] - This technology aligns with China's abundant thorium resources and can deeply integrate with solar energy, wind energy, high-temperature molten salt energy storage, high-temperature hydrogen production, and coal-to-chemical industries, constructing a low-carbon composite energy system with multi-energy complementarity [1] Group 2 - The development of the thorium molten salt reactor began in 2011 with the launch of a pilot technology project by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, which gathered a collaborative innovation team to overcome various technical challenges and achieve significant advancements from laboratory research to experimental reactor engineering validation [4][5] - The experimental reactor construction started in January 2020, achieving full power operation in June 2024, and completed the world's first thorium addition to a molten salt reactor in October 2024, establishing a unique research platform for molten salt reactors and thorium-uranium fuel cycles [4][5] - The team aims to build a 100 megawatt thorium-based molten salt reactor demonstration project by 2035, accelerating technology iteration and engineering transformation to provide a safe and reliable new path for thorium-based energy generation in the country [5]