Molten-salt reactors for efficient nuclear fuel utilization without plutonium separation

Engel, J.R.; Grimes, W.R.; Rhoades, W.A.; Dearing, J.F.

doi:10.2172/6650305

Cited by 16 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 7 publications

(1 reference statement)

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“…Already in 1978 Engel et al [11], highlighted one of the most attractive features of liquid fueled reactors. When the plutonium or other fissile material is once put into a molten salt reactor system it is not necessary to separate the material in any of the steps of the burning operation anymore.…”

Section: Why Molten Salt Reactors (Msrs)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…the plutonium (most of which is consumed in situ) would be of poor quality and would never be isolated from all other undesirable nuclides. Thus, such systems would provide for efficient utilization of uranium resources in a proliferation-resistant environment while limiting the amount of plutonium (and transplutonium actinides) that would have to be handled as waste" [12].…”

Section: Why Molten Salt Reactors (Msrs)mentioning

confidence: 99%

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On the Burning of Plutonium Originating from Light Water Reactor Use in a Fast Molten Salt Reactor—A Neutron Physical Study

Merk

Litskevich

2015

Energies

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An efficient burning of the plutonium produced during light water reactor (LWR) operation has the potential to significantly improve the sustainability indices of LWR operations. The work offers a comparison of the efficiency of Pu burning in different reactor configurations-a molten salt fast reactor, a LWR with mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, and a sodium cooled fast reactor. The calculations are performed using the HELIOS 2 code. All results are evaluated against the plutonium burning efficiency determined in the Consommation Accrue de Plutonium dans les Réacteurs à Neutrons RApides (CAPRA) project. The results are discussed with special view on the increased sustainability of LWR use in the case of successful avoidance of an accumulation of Pu which otherwise would have to be forwarded to a final disposal. A strategic discussion is given about the unavoidable plutonium production, the possibility to burn the plutonium to avoid a burden for the future generations which would have to be controlled.

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Section: Why Molten Salt Reactors (Msrs)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Why Molten Salt Reactors (Msrs)mentioning

confidence: 99%

On the Burning of Plutonium Originating from Light Water Reactor Use in a Fast Molten Salt Reactor—A Neutron Physical Study

Merk

Litskevich

2015

Energies

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“…This was already highlighted in 1978 by Engel et al, as one of the most attractive features of liquid fueled reactors. Once the plutonium, or other fissile material, is put into a molten salt reactor system it is not necessary to separate the material, in order to the keep the fission process going [31]. Another important feature of such a system provides no possibility for inserting pure or almost pure fertile material for breeding-all fuel components will be mixed immediately.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On a Long Term Strategy for the Success of Nuclear Power

et al. 2017

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Abstract:The current generation of nuclear reactors are evolutionary in design, mostly based on the technology originally designed to power submarines, and dominated by light water reactors. The aims of the Generation IV consortium are driven by sustainability, safety and reliability, economics, and proliferation resistance. The aims are extended here to encompass the ultimate and universal vision for strategic development of energy production, the "perpetuum mobile"-at least as close as possible. We propose to rethink nuclear reactor design with the mission to develop an innovative system which uses no fresh resources and produces no fresh waste during operation as well as generates power safe and reliably in economic way. The results of the innovative simulations presented here demonstrate that, from a theoretical perspective, it is feasible to fulfil the mission through the direct reuse of spent nuclear fuel from currently operating reactors as the fuel for a proposed new reactor. The produced waste is less burdensome than current spent nuclear fuel which is used as feed to the system. However, safety, reliability and operational economics will need to be demonstrated to create the basis for the long term success of nuclear reactors as a major carbon free, sustainable, and applied highly reliable energy source.

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“…This was already highlighted in 1978 by Engel et al, as one of the most attractive features of liquid fuelled reactors. Once the plutonium, or other fissile material, is put into a molten salt reactor system it is not necessary to separate the material, in order to the keep the fission process going [20]. Another important feature of such a system provides no possibility for inserting pure or almost pure fertile material for breeding -all fuel components will be mixed immediately.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

On a Long Term Strategy for the Success of Nuclear Power

Merk¹,

Litskevich²,

Whittle³

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Abstract:The current generation of nuclear reactors are evolutionary in design, mostly based on the technology originally designed to power submarines, and dominated by Light Water Reactors. The aims of the GenIV consortium are driven by sustainability, safety and reliability, economics, and proliferation resistance. The aims are extended here to encompass the ultimate and universal vision for strategic development of energy production, the 'perpetuum mobile' -at least as close as possible. We propose to rethink nuclear reactor design with the mission to develop a system which uses no fresh resources and produces no fresh waste during operation as well as generates power safe and reliably in economic way. The results of the innovative simulations presented here demonstrate that, from a theoretical perspective, it is feasible to fulfil the mission through the reuse of spent nuclear fuel from currently operating reactors as the fuel for a new reactor. The produced waste is less burdensome than current spent nuclear fuel which is used as feed to the system. However, safety, reliability and operational economics will need to be demonstrated to create the basis for the long term success of nuclear reactors as a major carbon free, sustainable, and applied highly reliable energy source.

show abstract

Molten-salt reactors for efficient nuclear fuel utilization without plutonium separation

Cited by 16 publications

References 7 publications

On the Burning of Plutonium Originating from Light Water Reactor Use in a Fast Molten Salt Reactor—A Neutron Physical Study

On the Burning of Plutonium Originating from Light Water Reactor Use in a Fast Molten Salt Reactor—A Neutron Physical Study

On a Long Term Strategy for the Success of Nuclear Power

On a Long Term Strategy for the Success of Nuclear Power

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