A Feasibility Study on Various Options for a Subcritical Integrated Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment

In January 2000, the US Department of Energy organized a meeting between nine nuclear countries to discuss the potential of a large scale collaboration, aimed at developing the generation four nuclear reactors. The meeting was concluded by the formation of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF). The Canadian nuclear industry have taken particular interest in two generation IV design concepts: the Supercritical Water-Cooled Reactor (SCWR) and the Molten Salt Reactor (MSR). Whereas supercritical water, as a coolant, is already in use in coal-fired plants, the fluoride molten salt (to be utilized in the MSR) is a highly unconventional coolant. Under atmospheric pressure, the fluoride molten salt boils at ~1400°C, thus, the risk of over-pressurization from steam build up is eliminated. Furthermore, Terrestrial Energy, since 2013, have been working on developing the Improved MSR (IMSR), in which the nuclear fuel is incorporated into the coolant. TO BE CONT’D

Faculty Supervisor:

Adriaan Buijs

Student:

Partner:

Terrestrial Energy Inc

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services; Utilities

University:

McMaster University

Program: