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TheFUJImolten salt reactor is a proposed molten-salt-fueledthorium fuel cyclethermalbreeder reactor, using technology similar to theOak Ridge National Laboratory'sMolten Salt Reactor Experiment –liquid fluoride thorium reactor. It was being developed by the Japanese company International Thorium Energy & Molten-Salt Technology (IThEMS), together with partners from theCzech Republic. As a breeder reactor, it convertsthorium into thenuclear fueluranium-233. To achieve reasonable neutron economy, the chosen single-salt design results in significantly larger feasible size[clarification needed] than a two-salt reactor (where blanket is separated from core, which involves graphite-tube manufacturing/sealing complications). Like allmolten salt reactors, its core is chemically inert and under low pressure, helping to prevent explosions and toxic releases. The proposed design is rated at 200 MWe output.[1] The IThEMS consortium planned to first build a much smallerMiniFUJI 10 MWe reactor of the same design once it had secured an additional $300 million in funding.[2]
IThEMS closed in 2011 after it was unable to secure adequate funding.[3] A new company, Thorium Tech Solution (TTS), was founded in 2011 by Kazuo Furukawa, the chief scientist from IThEMS, and Masaaki Furukawa. TTS acquired the FUJI design and some related patents.[4]
