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Nuclear Science, Technology, and Engineering for Molten Salt Reactors

Texas A&M University College of Engineering

Chemical Technologies

Researchers:

  • Raluca Scarlat
  • Sean McDeavitt
  • Luis Ortega

Students:

  • Primary Graduate: 3
  • Undergraduate: 8
  • Supporting Graduate: 4

Lab/Industry Interfaces:

  • Kairos Power
  • Thorcon Power
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory
  • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Argonne National Laboratory
  • Copenhagen Atomics
  • Moltex Energy
  • TerraPower
  • NRG Petten, Netherlands
  • Kyushu Univeristy, Japan

Chemical Sensors

photo illustrating sensor

Motivation

  • On-line, at-line, and off-line methods for characterization of salt composition and chemical state are limited.
  • E.g.: oxide content quantification is a major challenge that impacts operations, and also impacts repeatability of experiments for corrosion and salt physico-chemical properties.
  • Once a detection technique is demonstrated, sensor development efforts are an important step of technology transfer to MSR developers
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Goals

  • Proof-of-principle operation
  • Development of data interpretation algorithms
  • Development of calibration methods
  • Identification of operational environments and design constraints

Approach

  • Focus is on oxide content characterization, as a case study problem
  • Demonstrate viability of electrochemical method, in FLiBe
  • Demonstrate viability of IR optical methods, in FLiBe
  • COMSOL is used for chemical + CFD + thermal modeling to inform sensor design
  • Generate salt sample library, and initiate round-robins for salt characterization with other groups
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Waste Forms

Motivation

The advantages claimed for MSR waste production will only be realized if a credible waste immobilization/disposal pathway is established.

  • These must be MSR-specific.
  • Challenge to define without a well-defined “repository” specification.

Goal

NuSTEM focus is on fueled salt MSRs where fission products are dissolved in the salt.

  • Presumes fission product (FP) generation during operation with batch removal.
  • Work will be primarily done with surrogate FPs in FLiBe. (FLiNaK may be considered later).
  • Selection of FLiBe principally due to its prominence as a fueled MSR Salt.
    • Financial support for waste form task only enables a single salt for primary experimental work.

Approach

Immobilization of the various salt streams to create stable waste forms.

  • Calcining (oxidation), vitrification (glass), ion exchange, mineralization have been explored in the past.
  • Focus on calcination and mineralization methods.

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