Molten salt reactor, nuclear fuel cycle, breedandburn vi. Some designs do not require solid fuel, which eliminates the need for manufacturing and disposing of it. Includes case studies and examples from experts across the globe. Unlike all current reactors, the fuel is in liquid form. Oak ridges contaminated molten salt reactor experiment may. A molten salt reactor msr is a class of nuclear fission reactor in which the primary nuclear reactor coolant andor the fuel is a molten salt mixture. Oak ridge national laboratorys molten salt reactor experiment was designed to assess the viability of liquid fuel reactor technologies for use in commercial power generation. Conceptual design of a sustainable waste burning molten salt. Pdf the case for the thorium molten salt reactor researchgate. The integral molten salt reactor imsr is designed for the small modular reactor smr market. Molten salt reactors could soon help power earthand one day. The results of studies on the corrosion behavior of the two alloys in molten li 2 bef 4 flibe.
In the frame of a major reevaluation of the molten salt reactor msr, we have developed a new concept called thorium molten salt reactor tmsr, particularly well suited to fulfill the criteria. Similar molten salts could cool metal fuel rods more safely than water. Msre design and operations report, part i, description of reactor design ornltm728 a description of the molten salt reactor experiment design. Proceedings of icapp 06 reno, nv usa, june 48, 2006 paper 6295 moltensaltreactor technology gaps charles w.
Advanced reactor systems and safety reactor and nuclear systems division presentation for. Molten salt reactor by muhammad uzair rasheed ms npe kinpoe 2. Pdf molten salt reactor by leslie dewan manuel costa. Molten salt reactors msrs are a family of liquidfueled fission reactor concepts using a fluid molten salt mixture as fuel. Surface chemical analyses of the affected grain boundaries indicated the presence of the fission product tellurium. Download the commemorating brochure for the msres 50 th anniversary pdf. This concept is not new, but includes many advantages of safety, sustainability and nuclear nonproliferation over older legacy designs which utilize water for cooling the reactor.
Uri gat in 1993 while researching aqueous homogenous reactors, which ornl had also built and operated. The msre fuel salt is a mixture of uranium, lithium7, beryllium, and. A successful nuclear step for new molten salt reactors. The key advantage of this geniv reactor design is that it uses molten salt to carry the fuel as well as cool the system. Pdf introduction to the physics of molten salt reactors. This document summarizes the large program of chemical research and development which led to selection of fuel and coolant compositions for the molten salt reactor experiment msre and for subsequent reactors of this type. The design is based heavily on the intensive molten salt reactor project of oak ridge national laboratory ornl in the 1950s 1970s. Most of the proposed msr concepts use molten fluoride salts as coolant which can be quite corrosive to structural alloys. Terrestrial energy is developing revolutionary not simply evolutionary nuclear technology. This is part of a 10part series describing the experience with. Initial fissile matter 233u, pu, enriched u, salt composition, fissile inventory, reprocessing, waste management, deployment capacities, heat exchanges. About 40 international authors are writing an 800 page book on molten salt reactors. Molten salt reactors have seen a marked resurgence of interest over the past decade, highlighted by their inclusion as one of six generation iv reactor types. Molten salt reactors msr if we heat up table salt nacl to high temperatures it becomes a liquid, which can operate at high temperature and low pressure.
If molten salt reactors pose a great proliferation risk, why. They began with the nuclear navy and then the technology transitioned to civilian power. Msr 2015 workshop on molten salt reactor technologies. Transatomic powers advanced molten salt reactor unlocks clean, safe, and lowcost nuclear energy.
Alternatively, the fuel itself could be dissolved in the molten salt, which would avoid the need for fuel rod. Sep 27, 2012 superfuel focused on another type of molten salt reactor, a liquid fluoride thorium reactor, or lftr. This itself is not a radical departure when the fuel is solid and fixed. Concept of molten salt fast reactor generation iv international. Fissile, fertile, and fission products are dissolved in a hightemperature, molten fluoride salt with a very high boiling temperature. If you can cite a journal or jointstudy, i can help address that aspect. Dec 14, 2017 part of the contaminated site of oak ridges old molten salt reactor experiment may be entombed in concrete.
Fluid fluorides and chlorides reactor research and development on molten salt reactors msrs papers, books, and reports. Molten salt reactors msrs are one family of advanced reactors designs with the. Sep 03, 2015 this question has a lot of layers to it. Our revolutionary design allows us to achieve a high fuel burnup in a compact system, solve the nuclear industrys most pressing problems, and clear the way for. Aside from serving as the repository for the old msr experiments, how is ornl helping china in this regard. Shortcomings of current pwr and bwr, solid uraniumfuel, nuclear power reactors are summarized. Molten salt reactor an overview sciencedirect topics. The design was first proposed as the propulsion system of a nuclearpowered aircraft at the oak ridge national laboratory macpherson, 1985. Fast spectrum molten salt reactor options info oak ridge. After the molten salt reactor program was shut down in 1973, with preference being given to sodium fast breeder reactors, there has been little activity until now. A theory and model of molten salt reactor xenon behavior.
Boussier chair of the molten salt reactor system steering committee former chairman slides prepared in collaboration with cnrs france and jrc euratom gif symposium san diego november 1516, 2012. In the frame of a major reevaluation of the molten salt reactor msr, we have developed a new concept called thorium molten salt reactor. Msrs offer multiple advantages over conventional nuclear power plants, although for historical reasons further explanation needed, they have not been deployed the concept was first established in the 1950s. Terrestrial energy is an industryleading technology company committed to delivering reliable, emissionfree, and costcompetitive nuclear energy with a truly innovative advanced reactor design, the integral molten salt reactor imsr. There is growing awareness that nuclear energy is needed to complement intermittent energy sources and to avoid pollution from fossil fuels. It also incorporates elements found in the smahtr, a later design from. The project was initiated in 2008 and was led by india. Review of hazards associated with molten salt reactor fuel. Some have solid fuel similar to htr fuel, others have fuel dissolved. Why the molten salt reactor msr was not developed by the usa i was reintroduced to molten salt reactors msrs by oak ridge national laboratorys ornl dr. Macpherson consultant, oak ridge, tennessee 37831 accepted march 15, 1985 abstract a personal history of the development of molten salt reactors in the united states is presented. Why are molten salt reactors not used in commercial. Oak ridge national laboratory ran molten salt thorium reactor experiments from the 1960s until 1976.
It operated from january 1965 through december 1969, logging more than,000 hours at full power during its fouryear run. Possible configurations for the thorium molten salt reactor. A molten salt reactor msr is one in which fluorides of fissile andor fertile elements such as uf4, puf3 andor thf4 are com bined with carrier salts to form. Imsr molten salt reactor technology by terrestrial energy. A singlefluid reactor was selected that in its engineering features resembled a converter, but the fuel salt did not contain thorium and thus was similar to the fuel salt for a twofluid breeder. It employs molten salt reactor technology which is being developed by the canadian company terrestrial energy. Molten salt reactors is a comprehensive reference on the status of molten salt reactor msr research and thorium fuel utilization. The msr has a closed fuel cycle that can be tailored for thefficient burnup of e plutonium and minor.
On the other hand, prime attention is inclined to thorium molten salt reactor msr in recent years due to necessity for radioactive waste disposal, nuclear. Such operations involve hazards that are substantially different from those associated with uranium oxide fuel fabrication and handling. Assumptions in msr xenon theories are made explicit. Written in cooperation with the international thorium molten salt forum. Jul 11, 2017 molten salt reactors and thorium energy. A pair of mit scientists try to transform nuclear power forbes. The moltensalt reactor experiment msre was an experimental molten salt reactor at the oak ridge national laboratory ornl researching this technology through the 1960s. Sep 16, 20 molten salt reactors msrs are seen in some countries as a promising advanced reactor technology because of the various benefits associated with them. The initial goal was an aircraft propulsion reactor, and a molten fluoridefueled. Pdf in the frame of a major reevaluation of the molten salt reactor msr, we have developed a new concept called thorium molten salt reactor tmsr. The coreunit comes in a single size designed to deliver 400 megawatts of thermal heat which can be used for multiple applications. Challenges related to the use of liquid metal and molten. Molten salt reactors australian nuclear association. Introduction to the physics of molten salt reactors.
The molten salt reactor experiment msre was an experimental molten salt reactor at the oak ridge national laboratory ornl researching this technology through the 1960s. Safety assessment of molten salt reactors in comparison with. A variety of designs is being developed, some as fast neutron types. Molten salt reactors and thorium energy 1st edition.
It can be moved around with a pump, and passively drained in the event of a casualty. Terrestrial energy leading the way to a bright energy future. Corrosion of structural alloys in hightemperature molten. Forsberg et al, liquid salt applications and molten salt reactors, revue generale du nucleaire n 42007, 63 2007. Aircraft reactor experiment was operated at oak ridge national laboratory in. Msr system pro duces fission power in a circulating molten salt fuel mixture with an epithermal spectrum reactor and a full actinide. It is based closely on the denatured molten salt reactor dmsr, a reactor design from oak ridge national laboratory. Shus nuclear power device is called a twofluid molten salt reactor. This book, written in cooperation with the international thorium molten salt forum, will provide a comprehensive reference on the status of molten salt reactor msr research as of 2015. Molten salt reactors have tremendous safety, waste and proliferation virtues, which translate into substantial commercial. Initially developed in the 1950s, molten salt reactors have benefits in higher efficiencies and lower waste generation. Pdf shortcomings of current pwr and bwr, solid uraniumfuel, nuclear power reactors are summarized.
Challenges related to the use of liquid metal and molten salt. Molten salt reactors and thorium energy 1st edition elsevier. Molten salt reactors and thorium energy scitech connect. Related to the removal of heat by liquid metal and molten salt coolants from reactor cores operating at high temperatures investigated the technological challenges of cooling reactor cores that operate at high temperatures in advanced fast reactors, high temperature. Dissolved in fluoride salt uraniumthorium fluoride fuel may be dissolved in coolant. The experiment demonstrated molten salt reactors inherent safety and ease of operation. Ralph moir, who continues to help and encourage me and many other pilgrims, in our molten salt adventures journey. Gateway for accelerated innovation in nuclear molten salt. Unlike nearly all current reactors, thorcon operates at nearambient pressure. They are seen as a promising technology today principally as a thorium fuel cycle prospect or for using spent lwr fuel.
Oct 14, 2016 oak ridge national laboratorys molten salt reactor experiment was designed to assess the viability of liquid fuel reactor technologies for use in commercial power generation. Molten salt reactors msrs papers, books, and reports. After the program finished, the emphasis was put on. Uri gat, who introduced me to molten salt reactors in 1993 and dr. I say reintroduced, because like many nuclear engineering and. Because of the fact that thorium fuel was used, enthusiasts rediscovering this technology 40 years later have misplaced the rudiments of the innovation. The concept of fast spectrum molten salt reactor msfr. Molten salt reactors msrs are liquidfueled reactors that can be used for burning actinides, producing electricity, producing hydrogen, and producing fissile fuels breeding.
Such liquidfueled reactors benefit from some potential advantages over solidfueled systems, among which are the possibility of fuel composition fertilefissile adjustment and fuel reprocessing without shutting down the reactor. New molten salt thorium reactor powers up for first time in. Our revolutionary design allows us to achieve a high fuel burnup in a compact system, solve the nuclear industrys most pressing problems, and. One was touched on in a early answer, in that we have always used light water reactors lwr. But extending the concept to dissolving the fissile and fertile fuel in the salt certainly represents a leap in lateral thinking relative to nearly every reactor. Molten salt reactors, which control nuclear heat with melted lithium and potassium fluorides instead of water, have a failsafe to prevent meltdowns. Thorium is an abundant, safe, and cheap fuel source for efficient, proven, and stable molten salt reactors msr an msr operated from 1965 to 1969 without fault at oak ridge national laboratories ornl 1 under alvin weinberg, pioneer of the standard uranium pressurized water reactor pwr, until it was shut down due to its inability to produce weapons grade material for the cold war and.
These virtues became conflated with the molten salt reactor design. She is in charge of the workpackage 1 integralsafety approach and system integrationof the euratom project samofar of horizon2020, and she is representative of cnrs at the steering committee on molten salt reactors of the gif. Dewan and massies design is fuelagnostic in the sense that it can run on either uranium or. Nuclear power will be used continuously as lowcarbon energy for a sustainable society. Safety assessment of molten salt reactors in comparison. Shortening transmutation time by using the molten salt reactor. Power molten salt reactor, oak ridge national laboratory report ornltm2016742 2017. The design of the molten salt reactor experiment was begun in 1960. New molten salt thorium reactor powers up for first time. Because the radioactive contaminants are in the salt, removing it risks dispersing it. Molten salt reactors msrs use molten fluoride salts as primary coolant, at low pressure. Molten salt reactors could soon help power earthand one day mars. The conversion capacities of such molten salt reactors are excellent.
Nov 10, 2017 removal of decay heat by passive means is a distinct advantage of any molten salt design, but the terrestrial energy reactor uses the natural convection of the molten salt to remove the heat to. For molten salt reactors only started with plutonium, the assets of the thorium fuel cycle turn out to be quickly recovered and the reactor s characteristics turn out to be equivalent to molten salt reactors operated with 233u only. Fast thorium molten salt reactors started with plutonium. Molten salt reactors msr are fission type reactors, in which the fissile material fuel is dissolved in the primary coolant, which in its turn is molten salt on fluoridechloride basis. Purchase molten salt reactors and thorium energy 1st edition. It is shown how the molten salt reactor msr created and operated at oak ridge national laboratory. In recent years, growing interest in this technology has led to renewed development activities. Aug 28, 2017 a team from the nuclear research and consultancy group nrg the netherlands has built the first molten salt reactor powered by thorium in decades. Moltensalt reactorshistory, status, and potential an excellent discussion of the history of msrs. They operate at higher temperatures, which lead to increased efficiencies in generating electricity. The integral molten salt reactor is so called because it integrates into a compact, sealed and replaceable nuclear reactor unit, called the imsr coreunit. Possible configurations for the thorium molten salt reactor and advantages of the fast nonmoderated version l. A successful nuclear step for new molten salt reactors forbes. Technology next generation molten salt reactor msr proprietary msr design the integral molten salt reactor imsr high technology readiness conducting basicpreliminary engineering work concludes with construction and licensing of the first commercial imsr power plant 400 mwth reactor.
Moltensalt reactors can operate with the salt processing and fuel addition being performed in either continuous or batch operations. The history of the molten salt reactor dates back to the 1950s. Msrs offer multiple advantages over conventional nuclear power plants, although for historical reasons further explanation needed, they have not been deployed. While the reactor was an important initial step in msr design, it only ran for a few weeks and produced zero nuclear power. Covers msrspecific issues, various reactor designs, and discusses issues such as the environmental impact, nonproliferation, and licensing. Our revolutionary design allows us to achieve a high fuel burnup in a compact system, solve the nuclear industrys most pressing problems, and clear the way for advanced nuclear powers global deployment. This included such items as suitable graphite to act as neutron moderator, drain tanks for.
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