Other liquid fuel msr design variants restrict the fuel salt to natural circulation motion within fuel tubes that are externally cooled. Terrestrial energys imsr features selfcontained reactor coreunit, where all key components are permanently sealed for operating lifetime. Peterson presented at the enabling the next nuclear. Molten salt reactors and thorium energy 1st edition. Molten salt reactor technology developed at ornl moltensaltfueled reactors reactors with fuel dissolved in fluoride or chloride salt fluidfuel reactors extensive development program from 1940s to 1970s including msre developed as breeder option to sodiumcooled fast reactor breeder thorium considered in development. There is growing awareness that nuclear energy is needed to complement intermittent energy sources and to avoid pollution from fossil fuels. The imsr400 design draws upon past operational experience from research and development efforts such as the molten. At the end of 7year design life, the imsr coreunit. What integral system tests are required to validate your fuel system failure modes and the efficacy of the defined fuel safety criteria. Jan 07, 2015 removal of decay heat by passive means is a distinct advantage of any molten salt design, but the terrestrial energy reactor uses the natural convection of the molten salt to remove the heat to. Imsr builds on 70 years of ornl reactor design work and relies on many demonstrated technologies. It is based closely on the denatured molten salt reactor dmsr, a reactor design from oak ridge national laboratory. It is based closely on the denatured molten salt reactor dmsr, a reactor design from oak ri.
Comparative economic analysis of the integral molten salt reactor. Advances in small modular reactor technology developments. A variety of designs is being developed, some as fast. New applications of integral effects tests for molten salt. Doene established gain to provide the nuclear community with access to the technical, regulatory, and financial support necessary to move innovative nuclear energy technologies toward commercialization while ensuring the continued safe, reliable. The imsr is being developed by terrestrial energy inc.
Presentation by john kutsch, terrestrial energy usa, at the u. They are seen as a promising technology today principally as a thorium fuel cycle prospect or for using spent lwr fuel. Imsr the integral molten salt reactor the perspective of. The hys process, being a two step process, can act as a buffer and store thermal energy chemically as liquid so 2, to be used to generate hydrogen as required to minimize generation and storage costs. Its proponent, the canadian nuclear researcher and engineer david leblanc, does not. Introduction to the physics of molten salt reactors. Commercial deployment of teusas innovative gen iv integral. Molten salt reactor fuel qualification considerations and.
The integral molten salt reactor is an msr that makes a point of taking the kiss principle seriously. Reducing the burden of high level radioactive waste with. Pdf shortcomings of current pwr and bwr, solid uraniumfuel, nuclear power reactors are summarized. Pdf introduction to the physics of molten salt reactors. The integral molten salt reactor imsr represents a clean energy alternative to fossil fuel combustion for industrial heat and provision, which is compact, efficient, and costcompetitive with.
At the end of 7year design life, the imsr coreunit is shut down to cool. The fuel salt is mobile, so it circulates within the reactor vessel in some designs, and outside the reactor vessel in some designs. Terrestrial energy is an industryleading technology company committed to delivering reliable, emissionfree, and costcompetitive nuclear energy with a truly innovative advanced reactor design, the integral molten salt reactor imsr. This is a fundamentally different approach compared to conventional nuclear.
Coupling integral molten salt reactor technology with. Fluoride chemistry under 5% leu oncethrough fuel cycle thermal spectrum graphite moderator integral core architecture. Molten salt reactor technical working group licensing perspective. A variety of designs is being developed, some as fast neutron types. Integral molten salt reactor wikimili, the best wikipedia. Molten salt reactors updated december 2018 molten salt reactors operated in the 1960s. The integral fast reactor ifr reactors designedbuilt. Molten salt reactors australian nuclear association. Terrestrial energyos imsr features selfcontained reactor coreunit, where all key components are permanently sealed for operating lifetime. In the frame of a major reevaluation of the molten salt reactor msr, we have developed a new concept called thorium molten salt reactor.
The design is based heavily on the intensive molten salt reactor msr project of oak ridge national laboratory ornl in the 1950s70s. This vessel, called the imsr coreunit, is replaced completely as a single unit at the end of its useful service. Removal of decay heat by passive means is a distinct advantage of any molten salt design, but the terrestrial energy reactor uses the natural convection of the molten salt to. Commercial deployment of teusas innovative gen iv integral molten salt reactor subject. The integral fast reactor ifr is a fast reactor system developed at argonne national laboratory in the decade 1984 to 1994. A vdr is a feedback mechanism that enables cnsc staff to provide feedback early in the design process based on a vendors reactor technology. Msrs offer multiple advantages over conventional nuclear power plants, although for historical reasons further explanation needed, they have not been deployed the concept was first established in the 1950s. David leblanc, the president and chief technology officer of terrestrial energy will give a presentation on the physics and other key features of the technology and how terrestrial is developing the design of its imsrtm integral molten salt reactor to take to market in the 2020s. An overview of the integral molten salt reactor uwmadison. Molten salt reactor wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. The integral fast reactor ifr reactors designedbuilt by. Solid fueled salt cooled cartridge core design imsr builds on 50 years of ornl reactor design work and relies on many demonstrated technologies.
Once the design life of the imsr is reached, for example, in the range of 3 to 10 years, it is disconnected, removed and replaced as a unit. The integral molten salt reactor imsr developed by the terrestrial energy in canada is a 190mwe power msr adopting oncethrough fuel cycle. The reactor concept had important features and characteristics that were completely. After the molten salt reactor program was shut down in 1973, with preference being given to sodium fast breeder reactors, there has been little activity until now. Tei has demonstrated an understanding of cnsc requirements applicable to the design and safety analysis of the imsr400 tei has demonstrated its intent to comply with cnsc regulatory requirements and expectations for npps. New applications of integral effects tests for molten salt reactor development james kendrick, chris poresky, and per f. The content on the specific smrs is provided by the responsible institute or organization and is reproduced, with permission, in this booklet. This is a fundamentally different approach compared to conventional nuclear systems that use solid fuel. Msrs offer multiple advantages over conventional nuclear power plants, although for historical reasons further explanation needed, they have not been deployed. Parabolic trough solar plant with two molten salt tank design construction molten salt tes concrete thermal design of a solar hydrogen. This study presents an analysis of the integral molten salt reactor imsr concept in com.
Imsr the integral molten salt reactor the perspective. Aug 12, 2015 terrestrial energys imsr features selfcontained reactor coreunit, where all key components are permanently sealed for operating lifetime. It employs molten salt reactor technology which is being developed by the canadian company terrestrial energy. An overview of the integral molten salt reactor ian love, b. The integral molten salt reactor imsr is designed for the small modular reactor smr market. Coupling integral molten salt reactor technology with hybrid.
Integral molten salt reactor wikipedia republished wiki 2. Oct 23, 2015 the company is developing their wasteannihilating molten salt reactor wamsr which is a 520 mw molten salt reactor which uses the waste from traditional reactors as a fuel source. Pdf the case for the thorium molten salt reactor researchgate. Its proponent, the canadian nuclear researcher and engineer david leblanc, does not claim that imsr is the ferrari of molten salt reactors. Nov 10, 2017 canadas terrestrial energy succeeded at the canadian nuclear safety commission in the next step to licensing their advanced nuclear integral molten salt reactor. Integral primary systems restrict measurement access.
Terrestrial energys integral molten salt reactor by. The integral molten salt reactor imsr is being developed at terrestrial energy as an smr. The ifr project developed the technology for a complete system. Founded in 20, terrestrial is developing their integral molten salt reactor imsr into a small modular design, with its three firstofakind models ranging from 29 mwe to 290 mwe which will be suited for remote communities and industrial operations. An overview of the integral molten salt reactor simon irish. Imsr molten salt reactor technology by terrestrial energy. Molten salt fuel does not degrade by heat or radiation, so there are effectively no reactor power limits to the fuel. Integral molten salt fast reactor imsfr recently, yamawaki proposed a new system, integral molten salt fast reactor imsfr, in december, 2015 16. Terrestrial energy, national lab, southern company. The hys process, being a two step process, can act as a buffer and store thermal energy chemically as liquid so. The system combined an msr fueled with chloride molten salt. This study presents an analysis of the integral molten salt reactor imsr concept in comparison with a consistent analysis of an advanced pwr reactor represented by ap. The integral molten salt reactor molten salt reactor workshop april.
Coupling integral molten salt reactor technology into. Feb 05, 2015 once the design life of such an integral molten salt reactor imsr is reached, for example, in the range of 3 to 10 years it is disconnected, removed and replaced as a unit and this unit itself may also potentially function as the medium or long term storage of the radioactive graphite andor heat exchangers andor control rods andor fuel. Based on the documentation submitted, cnsc staff have concluded that. The present relates to the integration of the primary functional elements of graphite moderator and reactor vessel andor primary heat exchangers andor control rods into an integral molten salt nuclear reactor imsr. Molten salt reactors msrs are nuclear reactors that use a fluid fuel in the form of a molten fluoride or chloride salt. It features a completely sealed reactor vessel with integrated pumps, heat exchangers and shutdown rods. Hybrid electricalthermal hydrogen production process.
Estimation of levelized unit electricity costs, as well as sensitivity analyses to the discount rate and uranium or swu prices, are presented using this methodology. A successful nuclear step for new molten salt reactors forbes. Comparative economic analysis of the integral molten salt. It employs molten salt reactor technology which is being. A liquid fuel offers unique advantages not enjoyed by reactors that use solid fuel. The integral molten salt reactor 400 megawattsthermal imsr400 is a small modular molten. Tei is designing a 400thermalmegawatt integral molten salt reactor imsr400, with a net electrical output of approximately 200 megawatts. Hys can utilize thermal energy from a integral molten salt reactor imsr along with renewable electrical energy from either wind or solar generation to efficiently produce hydrogen. The integral molten salt reactor imsr is a design for a small modular reactor smr that employs molten salt reactor technology, based closely on the dmsr design from oak ridge national laboratory, and it incorporates elements found in the smahtr, a later design from the same laboratory.
This negative temperature feedback assures reactor safety on overheating, even with loss of all control systems. Technology next generation molten salt reactor msr proprietary msr design the integral molten salt reactor imsr high technology readiness conducting basicpreliminary engineering work concludes with construction and licensing of the. A molten salt reactor msr is a class of nuclear fission reactor in which the primary nuclear reactor coolant andor the fuel is a molten salt mixture. Once the design life of such an integral molten salt reactor imsr is reached, for example, in the range of 3 to 10 years it is disconnected, removed and replaced as a unit and this unit itself may also potentially function as the medium or long term storage of the radioactive graphite andor heat exchangers andor control rods andor fuel. It also incorporates elements found in the smahtr, a later design from. This included such items as suitable graphite to act as neutron moderator, drain tanks for the salts, and hot cells for. Terrestrial energy leading the way to a bright energy future.
Canadas terrestrial energy succeeded at the canadian nuclear safety commission in the next step to licensing their advanced nuclear integral molten salt. Fhrs to megawatts workshop on december 12, 2018 history and context of integral effects tests integral effects tests, in concert with separate effect tests, are. Reactor criticality control is assured through a negative temperature feedback made possible by molten salt fuel. We use the molten salt breeder reactor as a proxy for development of ancillary system technology primary system instrumentation flux, flow, temperature, pressure mass accountancy corrosion monitoring and control offgas system functional containment system passive decay heat removal remote systems salt processing. Technology next generation molten salt reactor msr proprietary msr design the integral molten salt reactor imsr high technology readiness conducting basicpreliminary engineering work concludes with construction and licensing of the first commercial imsr power plant 400 mwth reactor. The integral molten salt reactor 400 megawattsthermal imsr400 is a small modular molten salt fuelled reactor. Molten salt reactors is a comprehensive reference on the status of molten salt reactor msr research and thorium fuel utilization. While a traditional reactor may use up to 4% of the energy in their uranium fuel, the wamsr utilizes 96% consequently reducing nuclear waste to 2. Molten salt reactor technical working group licensing. Thorium is an abundant, safe, and cheap fuel source for efficient, proven, and stable molten salt reactors msr an msr operated from 1965 to 1969 without fault at oak ridge national laboratories ornl 1 under alvin weinberg, pioneer of the standard uranium pressurized water reactor pwr, until it was shut down due to its inability to produce weapons grade material for the cold war and.
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