Chinese scientists have recently achieved a milestone in the field of clean energy: by reloading fresh fuel into an operating thorium molten salt reactor, they have completed the world's first fuel replenishment experiment under continuous reactor operation. This breakthrough marks a key step from experimental verification to industrial application for thorium-based nuclear energy technology.
The experimental facility is located in the Gobi Desert of Minqin County, Wuwei City, Gansu Province, and is the only operating liquid-fueled thorium molten salt reactor in the world. It has a design power of 2 megawatts thermal (MWt), using molten salt as both coolant and fuel carrier, with thorium as the radioactive fuel source. Since its first criticality in October 2023, the reactor achieved full-power operation in June 2024 and completed its first thorium replenishment experiment in October of the same year, verifying the system's reliability and the feasibility of the fuel cycle.
China has abundant thorium resources; the proven reserves at the Ba Yun E Bo mining area in Inner Mongolia alone amount to 280,000 tons, theoretically supporting domestic energy needs for tens of thousands of years. Thorium has an extremely high energy density, with 1 ton of thorium equivalent to the power generation of 200 tons of uranium or 3.5 million tons of coal. It produces less radioactive waste with shorter half-lives, significantly reducing the risk of nuclear proliferation. This advantage makes thorium molten salt reactors a key technology for achieving carbon neutrality goals, especially suitable for dry regions and the small-scale energy demands of military equipment.
Thorium molten salt reactors are designed to operate at normal pressure, avoiding the high-pressure risks of traditional pressurized water reactors. Their inherent safety is achieved through the physical properties of molten salts: in the event of a malfunction, the molten salt will rapidly cool and solidify, preventing the spread of radioactive materials. Additionally, their high temperature output (above 700°C) can not only be used for electricity generation but also provide thermal energy for high-value-added industries such as industrial hydrogen production and seawater desalination, promoting the comprehensive utilization of nuclear energy.
The miniaturization and high safety of thorium molten salt reactors make them ideal choices for naval vessel propulsion. China has unveiled the world's first design concept for a thorium-powered container ship, with the molten salt reactor installed on a 230,000-ton hull providing 80,000 horsepower and a speed of 22-30 knots, laying the foundation for "zero-emission" maritime transportation. Analysts point out that this technology may be applied to nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines in the future, breaking through the volume and maintenance limitations of traditional uranium reactors and significantly enhancing operational range and endurance.
China's leadership in this field stems from its long-term commitment to the technological route. In the 1960s, although the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States was the first to build a molten salt experimental reactor, it abandoned the research due to Cold War strategic shifts. Chinese scientists recreated the experiments by studying declassified documents and overcame challenges such as high-temperature molten salt corrosion and fuel recycling, developing corrosion-resistant alloys and modular designs to achieve technological superiority.
According to plans, China will complete the construction of its first 60 MWth thorium molten salt demonstration reactor by 2029 and initiate the construction of commercial reactors with power levels exceeding 100 MW after 2030, aiming to form a complete industrial chain by 2060. A U.S. think tank assessment states that China has already surpassed the United States by 15 years in fourth-generation nuclear energy technology, and the maturity of thorium molten salt reactors could reshape the global energy and military landscape. It can be said that once mature, thorium molten salt reactors will completely solve China's energy supply security issues and open up broad prospects for military applications.
Hongjie Xu, a researcher at the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stated at a closed-door meeting: "We have chosen the most difficult but correct path." From the detonation of the hydrogen bomb to the breakthrough of the thorium reactor, China is driving the energy revolution through independent innovation, providing safer and more sustainable nuclear energy solutions for the world. With the acceleration of technological industrialization and militarization, thorium molten salt reactors may become the core engine for China to "overtake on a curve" in the new energy era.
Original Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7516724316185149992/
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