T. Dumaire
J.A. Ocádiz-Flores, R.J.M. Konings, A.L. Smith
TU Delft
Abstract
Molten salt fast reactors (MSFRs) are considered very promising for the production of energy in the future. Using a liquid fuel in the form of a molten salt as combustible and coolant at the same time, MSFRs could allow the access to a more compact and safer source of nuclear power. Mainly appreciated for the possibility to use thorium as fertile material, the MSFR design is a potential solution to reprocess a portion of the large stock of actinides from the spent fuel of the current generation of reactors or high-enriched military stocks [1]. To this date, fluoride and chloride salts are considered as the reference for MSR designs. In particular, the chloride salt mixture NaCl-ThCl4-PuCl3 is an appealing option with a relatively low melting temperature (598 K) at the eutectic 46.5 NaCl – 35 ThCl4 – 18.5 PuCl3 composition, a high stability and a rich neutron economy [2].
This work focuses on the thermodynamic assessment of the NaCl-ThCl4 and ThCl4-PuCl3 binary systems and the NaCl-ThCl4-PuCl3 ternary system, using the CALPHAD (Computer Coupling of Phase Diagrams and Thermochemistry) method and the quasi-chemical formalism in the quadruplet approximation [3]. This work is completed by Molecular Dynamic simulations to assess the structural properties of the liquid solution, density, thermal expansion, and excess thermodynamic properties.
- Mourogov, A. and P.M. Bokov, Potentialities of the fast spectrum molten salt reactor concept: REBUS-3700. Energy Conversion and Management, 2006. 47(17): p. 2761-2771.
- Katsuta, H., LIQUID TARGET/FUEL AND ASSOCIATED FUEL CYCLE TECHNOLOGIES. 1997, Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute: Tokai-mura, Naka-gun, Ibaraki-ken 319-11 Japan. p. 17-22.
- Ocádiz-Flores, J.A., et al., Thermodynamic assessment of the KF-ThF4, LiF-KF-ThF4 and NaF-KF-ThF4 systems. The Journal of Chemical Thermodynamics, 2020. 145.
Event Timeslots (1)
Wednesday – 15th September 2021
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Thomas Dumaire