Molten Salt Reactors and Thorium Energy by Dolan, Thomas J. -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover image Title page Table of Contents Copyright Vision List of Contributors Preface 1. Introduction

Abstract 1.1 Need for MSR 1.2 MSR origin and research curtailment 1.3 MSR activities 1.4 Fissile fuels 1.5 Thorium fuel advantages 1.6 Liquid fuel MSR 1.7 Advantages of liquid fuel MSR 1.8 MSR development issues 1.9 Tritium issues References

2. Electricity production

Abstract 2.1 Heat engines 2.2 Rankine cycles 2.3 Helium Brayton cycles 2.4 Supercritical CO2 Brayton cycles 2.5 Metal vapor combined cycles 2.6 Nuclear air Brayton power cycles 2.7 Summary References

3. Chemical fundamentals and applications of molten salts

Abstract 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Fundamental physicochemical properties of molten salts 3.3 Remote power sources 3.4 Heat exchangers and materials embrittlement challenges 3.5 High-temperature commercial applications 3.6 Actinide burning 3.7 Medical isotopes 3.8 Desalination 3.9 Optical applications 3.10 Summary and conclusions Acknowledgment References Further Reading

4. Reactor physics of MSR

Abstract 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Interaction of neutrons with matter 4.3 Multiplication factor of chain reactions 4.4 Cross-sections 4.5 Reaction rate 4.6 Neutron energy distribution and maxwell–bolzmann distribution 4.7 Transport and diffusion of neutrons 4.8 Criticality equation 4.9 Kinetic equations 4.10 Monte Carlo method 4.11 Conclusion References

5. Kinetics, dynamics, and neutron noise in stationary MSRs

Abstract 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The MSR model 5.3 The static equations 5.4 Space–time-dependent transient during start-up 5.5 Dynamic equations in the frequency domain: neutron noise 5.6 The point kinetic approximation and the point kinetic component 5.7 The neutron noise in an MSR, induced by propagating perturbations 5.8 Conclusions Acknowledgment References

6. Thermal hydraulics of liquid-fueled MSRs

Abstract 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Preliminary approach to thermo-hydraulics of internally heated molten salts 6.3 Heat transfer and pressure losses 6.4 Effects of internal heat generation on natural circulation stability 6.5 Conclusions Acknowledgments Abbreviations References

7. Materials

Abstract 7.1 Molten salt 7.2 Solid fuels with molten salt coolants 7.3 Thorium fuel cycle 7.4 Moderators 7.5 Structural materials 7.6 Conclusions References

8. Chemical processing of liquid fuel

Abstract 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Processing of fresh liquid fuel for MSR 8.3 Reprocessing technology of MSR fuel 8.4 Gas extraction process 8.5 Fused salt volatilization 8.6 Molten salt/liquid metal extraction 8.7 Electrochemical separation processes 8.8 Vacuum distillation 8.9 MSR reprocessing flowsheets 8.10 Conclusions References

9. Environment, waste, and resources

Abstract 9.1 Decay heat in the thorium cycle 9.2 Radiotoxicity in the thorium cycle 9.3 Nuclear waste from ThorCon type reactors 9.4 Resource utilization 9.5 Summary References

10. Nonproliferation and safeguards aspects of the MSR fuel cycle

Abstract 10.1 Introduction to nonproliferation and nuclear safeguards 10.2 The proliferation threat 10.3 Attractiveness of nuclear materials 10.4 Nuclear safeguards 10.5 Nonproliferation advantages and disadvantages with MSRs 10.6 Means of improving MSR fuel cycle proliferation resistance 10.7 Summary and conclusion References

11. Liquid fuel, thermal neutron spectrum reactors

Abstract 11.1 Development of molten salt reactor at ORNL 11.2 Current MSR designs after ORNL (FUJI) 11.3 Safety concepts of the MSR 11.4 Safety criteria of the MSR 11.5 MSR accident analysis 11.6 General design criteria for MSR design References

12. Fast-spectrum, liquid-fueled reactors

Abstract 12.1 Carrier salt for the fast molten-salt reactor 12.2 U–Pu fast MSR based on FLiNaK 12.3 Feasibility of the U–Pu fast-spectrum molten-salt reactors using (Li, Na, K)F–UF4–TRUF3 fuel salts Acknowledgments References

13. Solid fuel, salt-cooled reactors

Abstract 13.1 Introduction: definition of the FHR concept 13.2 FHR designs: pool versus loop, fuel element shape, power 13.3 Plant-level features 13.4 Phenomenology unique to FHRs 13.5 Thermal-hydraulics 13.6 Chemistry and corrosion control 13.7 Neutronics 13.8 Tritium management 13.9 Safety analysis and licensing strategy 13.10 Summary References

14. Static liquid fuel reactors

Abstract 14.1 Pumped versus static fuel molten salt reactor 14.2 Potential advantages of static fueled reactors 14.3 Convective heat transfer in molten fuel salt 14.4 Fuel tube materials 14.5 Fission products and gases 14.6 Static molten salt-fueled reactor options 14.7 Thermal spectrum static molten salt reactors 14.8 Fuel cycle for stable salt reactors 14.9 Global mix of static fueled molten salt reactors References

15. Accelerator-driven systems

Abstract 15.1 Introduction to accelerator-driven systems (ADS) 15.2 Accelerator Molten Salt Breeder (AMSB) 15.3 Fast subcritical MSR for MA incineration 15.4 Main characteristics of the subcritical MSR-B 15.5 Low-energy linear accelerator-driven subcritical assembly 15.6 Conclusions Acknowledgments References

16. Fusion–fission hybrids

Abstract 16.1 Energy needs 16.2 Fast breeder reactors 16.3 Fusion–fission hybrids 16.4 Thorium fuel cycle 16.5 Nuclear energy system 16.6 Actinide incineration 16.7 Molten salt hybrid tokamak References

17. Thorium molten salt reactor nuclear energy system (TMSR)

Abstract 17.1 Introduction 17.2 TMSR-LF 17.3 TMSR-SF 17.4 Summary

18. Integral molten salt reactor

Abstract 18.1 Introduction 18.2 Description of nuclear systems 18.3 Description of safety concept 18.4 Proliferation defenses 18.5 Safety and security (physical protection) 18.6 Description of turbine–generator systems 18.7 Electrical and I&C systems 18.8 Spent fuel and waste management 18.9 Plant layout 18.10 Plant performance 18.11 Development status of technologies relevant to the NPP 18.12 Deployment status and planned schedule Further reading Appendix: Summarized technical data

19. ThorCon reactor

Abstract 19.1 Need for deployment 19.2 Modular power plant 19.3 Safety features 19.4 Maintenance 19.5 MSR vs. coal 19.6 Construction speed Reference

20. Safety assessment of the molten salt fast reactor (SAMOFAR)

Abstract 20.1 Objectives of the project 20.2 The concept of the molten salt fast reactor 20.3 Main research themes 20.4 The SAMOFAR consortium

21. Stable salt fast reactor

Abstract 21.1 Design principles 21.2 Design outline 21.3 Fuel salt 21.4 Primary coolant salt 21.5 Secondary heat transfer loop and steam island 21.6 Fuel management and refueling 21.7 Neutronics and reactivity control 21.8 Decay heat removal 21.9 Waste and spent fuel management 21.10 Breeding potential 21.11 Conclusions

22. Transatomic Power

Abstract 22.1 Introduction 22.2 Fuel utilization in liquid-fueled reactors 22.3 Fission product removal and reactor fuel utilization 22.4 A new take on reactivity control 22.5 Depletion calculations with movable moderator rods 22.6 Waste reduction 22.7 Conclusion 22.8 Appendix A: calculation details 22.9 Appendix B: leakage considerations 22.10 Appendix C: isotopic evolution References

23. Copenhagen Atomics waste burner

Abstract 23.1 Reactor design choices 23.2 Mechanical design choices 23.3 Recycling of spent nuclear fuel 23.4 Molten salt reactor research 23.5 “Prime minister safety” References

24. Molten salt thermal wasteburner

Abstract 24.1 Introduction 24.2 Design overview 24.3 Safety and operation 24.4 Plant arrangement 24.5 Design and licensing status 24.6 Plant economics

25. Dual-fluid reactor

Abstract 25.1 The dual-fluid technology 25.2 Fuel cycle: the pyroprocessing unit 25.3 Applications 25.4 Electricity production 25.5 Synthetic fuels 25.6 Hydrazine for combustion and fuel cells 25.7 Silane 25.8 Other applications 25.9 Structural materials 25.10 Energy return on investment 25.11 Key properties of the DFR (3 GWth, 1.5 GWel) 25.12 Comparison with other reactor types References

26. Worldwide activities

26.1. Australia

References

26.2. Canada 26.3. Czech Republic

References

26.4. China 26.5. Denmark

Copenhagen Atomics Seaborg Technologies ApS

26.6. France

Acknowledgments References Many MSFR references may be found on the LPSC website:

26.7. Germany

References

26.8. India

Introduction to the Indian MSR Program Background to the Indian nuclear power program and the relevance of MSBRs Introduction to IHTR and its relevance R&D on high-efficiency power conversion system R&D on a high-efficiency hydrogen production system Summary Acknowledgments References

26.9. Indonesia

References

26.10. Italy

R&D activities at Polito R&D activities at Polimi References

26.11. Japan

References

26.12. Korea

References

26.13. Netherlands

References

26.14. Norway

Thorium discovery in Norway “Thorium fever” Telemark geology Commercial interest Governmental investigation 2008 Thorium report Recent events IThEO started in Sweden Irradiation experiments at Halden R&D reactor Molten salts

26.15. Russia

Physics and chemistry of MSR materials Subcritical MSR systems for minor actinide incineration Thorium-based reactor and its fuel cycle Fast MSR with U-Pu fuel cycle References

26.16. South Africa

Introduction Target applications Development milestones General design description Plant safety features Plant safety and operational performances Instrumentation and control systems Site and plant layout Design and licensing status Plant economics

26.17. Sweden

Preliminaries MSR kinetics, dynamics, and neutron noise Nonproliferation and safeguard aspects of the MSR fuel cycle Thorium research The chemistry of the thorium cycle with a view to MSR Research into heat and mass transfer in molten salts References

26.18. Switzerland

Introduction Motivation and main research areas Related national and international projects Core design and fuel cycle Fuel behavior at nominal and accidental conditions Transient behavior and decay heat removal system Safety, fuel stream, and relevant limits Summary References

26.19. Turkey

Goals THORIMS-NES and FUJI Stirling engines Heat exchangers Fusion–fission hybrid reactors and nonproliferation References

26.20. United Kingdom

References

26.21. Ukraine

Introduction Methodology Materials Results Summary References

26.22. United States of America

Introduction Oak Ridge National Laboratory CRADA Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of California—Berkeley (UCB) University of Wisconsin—Madison (UW) University of New Mexico Thermal-Fluids Lab Ohio State University University of Tennessee Knoxville University of Utah Penn State University Missouri University of Science and Technology (MUST) Thorium Energy Alliance (Nonprofit) TerraPower and Southern Company Services ThorCon (Martingale) Transatomic Power Flibe Energy Elysium Industries References

26.23. Venezuela

Introduction Background activities Radioisotope excited subcritical liquid fuel assembly Accelerator-driven MSR (AD MSR) simulation General conclusions Acknowledgments References

27. Issues and conclusions

Abstract 27.1 Achievements 27.2 Reactor development 27.3 Societal issues 27.4 Conclusions

Appendix A. Abbreviations Index

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