HTGR fuel and fuel cycle

This paper describes some of the basic charactritics of the HTGR fuel with emphasis on the 1160 MW(e) plant now being offered commercially by Gulf General Atomic and some of the aspects of the fuel cycle which are unique to the HTGR. The fuel cycle is based on highly enriched (93%) uranium for the initial and the make-up fissile material; thorium for the fertile material, with the bred ²³³U being recycled at the earliest opportunity. The fuel elements consist only of ceramic materials with the thorium/uranium carbides or oxides in the form of coated particles.