Oak Ridge National Laboratory just held an annual get-together of developers of molten salt reactors. Dane Wilson presented the November 2024 status of the Thorcon 500 liquid fuel fission power plant development. Thorcon works with nuclear experts worldwide to develop the design of this low-cost, safe, reliable source of emission-free electric power. Here are some Dane mentioned.
Milano Multiphysics’ team uses advanced software tools to design and analyze the reactor heat flows, materials effects, and nuclear physics of the fissions of uranium atoms. For example, the new header tank design more effectively separates neutron-absorbing xenon from the circulating molten salt, increasing overall power efficiency.
Virginia Tech experts in molten salt chemistry analyzed the interaction of fuel-bearing molten salt with the smooth surface of graphite used to slow neutrons to let them fission uranium. They are now working to scale up the process to purify fluoride salts of sodium, beryllium, and uranium in which fission takes place.
University of California at Berkeley faculty and students have built and operated laboratory equipment to measure changes in physical properties of Thorcon molten salt as temperatures increase. Their measures of fluid viscosity confirm that designed pump power is adequate.
Argonne National Laboratory leaders and engineers work with Thorcon management on Safeguards by Design, to block nuclear terrorism. The design includes a high-hazard common barrier around all fission fuel and products, and measurement and control of them during fuel preparation, transport, refueling, and maintenance center operations.
Empresarios Agrupados (EA) conforms Thorcon design work to established systemic manufacturing specifications that are well controlled and acceptable to suppliers and regulators. EA’s experience in developing 60 GW of power plants in 40 countries will enable mass production of standardized 500 MW power plants.
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