Lightbridge's patented seed-and-blanket fuel assembly consists of two sections: (1) the central region called the seed that is surrounded by (2) fuel rods in the outer region called the blanket.
The seed incorporates proprietary elements different from conventional fuel rods that offer certain reactor safety and cost benefits. It is comprised of single-piece metallic fuel rods, having a proprietary shape, that are produced using a co-extrusion fabrication process. The basic metal fuel technology utilized in the seed builds upon decades of successful operating experience with metallic fuel used in the Russian icebreaker reactors.
The blanket is comprised of thorium-uranium fuel rods whose basic design is similar to that of conventional fuel rods presently used in commercial light water reactors. The main difference between blanket fuel rods and conventional fuel rods is material contained in the pellets: thorium-uranium oxide mixture in the blanket rods vs. uranium oxide in conventional uranium fuel rods.
