Thorium cycle. Computer artwork showing the nuclear fuel cycle that uses the naturally abundant 232 isotope of thorium (Th-232) as the fertile material to produce energy. From top right: Natural thorium (Th-232) absorbs a neutron (blue sphere) from uranium fission to become Th-233. Th-233 decays quickly to protactinium-233,which decays slowly over a month to uranium-233,an ideal fuel. Uranium-233 fissions,releasing energy (white flash) and neutrons (blue spheres) to continue the cycle | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Jensen, Mikkel Juul |
Taille de l’image : | 4446 px × 3971 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |