Thorium fuel cycles have been the subject of study since the 1950s but the intensity of this research has varied considerably over this time period. Competition with other advanced fuel cycles, among other factors, resulted in waning interest internationally in the 1980s and 1990s. However, there has been a resurgence of interest in thorium in recent times, with the emergence of a number of new systems studies and concepts. As this resurgence begins, a team from Vanderbilt University (Vanderbilt) and Westinghouse Electric Company (Westinghouse) orchestrated a technical track at the Global 2013 meeting to elucidate the technical status of thorium fuel cycles and the forward-looking challenges that such fuel cycles face. The thorium track included seventeen technical papers and two presentations (without the associated papers concerning the status of the thorium fuel cycle). Thorium-related topics discussed in these sessions include reconsideration of the thorium fuel cycle; synergy between rapidly increasing rare-earth production and the thorium fuel cycle; thorium utilization in pressurized-water, molten-salt, and heavy-water reactors; processing of molten salt thorium fuels; minor actinide transmutation; and the safety aspects of thorium-fueled reactors. Affiliations represented in the sessions include Vanderbilt University (USA), Thor Energy (Norway), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL, USA), Westinghouse (USA), Politecnico di Milano (Italy), Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (Canada), the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (China) and Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC, India) . Following and building on the thorium-related technical sessions, a panel session was convened to explore challenges in implementing thorium fuel cycles. The panel consisted of seven members affiliated with organizations having experience with thorium fuel cycles and representing a spectrum of views on thorium fuel cycles: Vanderbilt, Westinghouse, BAR C, AREVA SA, ORNL, and Thor Energy. The panel consisted of five short presentations and statements of views by the members followed by an extended period during which the audience and panel members posed questions to the panel. This paper (a) summarizes key points concerning advances in the technical status of thorium fuel cycles and (b) synthesizes the views of panel members on these advances and their responses to questions. These results are expected to be useful to industry and government organizations evaluating advanced nuclear fuel cycle options.
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