Advances in Molten Salt Reactors

Advances in Molten Salt Reactors combines and presents the latest research and developments in one single resource. It comprehensively reviews a variety of molten salt reactor designs, focussing on aspects of neutronics, thermal-hydraulics, chemistry, material and safety characteristics to give the reader a detailed understanding of each design's underlying dynamic and purpose. Editors Dr. Mark Ho, Professor Massimiliano Frantoni and Professor Huan Heng Yeoh, with their team of expert contributors, combine their experience and knowledge to analyse the variety of design options to ensure engineers are able to make well informed decisions for the most effective energy spectrum for their plants, including salt and material selection, instrumentation challenges and experimental capabilities. This book presents the rapid developments made in molten salt designs from investing countries such as China, the US, UK, Canada and others, considering the work of a variety of key pioneering companies, and is particularly valuable to practising and researching nuclear engineers, and graduate students of advanced nuclear reactor development.

Global warming, shortage of low-cost oil resources and the increasing demand for energy are currently controlling the world's economic expansion while often opposing desires for sustainable and peaceful development. In this context, atomic energy satisfactorily fulfills the criteria of low carbon gas production and high overall yield. However, in the absence of industrial fast-breeders the use of nuclear fuel is not optimal, and the production of high activity waste materials is at a maximum. These are the principal reasons for the development of a new, fourth generation of nuclear reactors, minimizing the undesirable side-effects of current nuclear energy production technology while increasing yields by increasing operation temperatures and opening the way for the industrial production of hydrogen through the decomposition of water. The construction and use of such reactors is hindered by several factors, including performance limitations of known structural materials, particularly if the life of the projected systems had to extend over the periods necessary to achieve low costs (at least 60 years). This book collects lectures and seminars presented at the homonymous NATO ASI held in autumn 2007 at the Institut d’Etudes Scientifiques in Cargèse, France. The adopted approach aims at improving and coordinating basic knowledge in materials science and engineering with specific areas of condensed matter physics, the physics of particle/matter interaction and of radiation damage. It is our belief that this methodology is crucially conditioning the development and the industrial production of new structural materials capable of coping with the requirements of these future reactors.

Molten Salt Reactors is a comprehensive reference on the status of molten salt reactor (MSR) research and thorium fuel utilization. There is growing awareness that nuclear energy is needed to complement intermittent energy sources and to avoid pollution from fossil fuels. Light water reactors are complex, expensive, and vulnerable to core melt, steam explosions, and hydrogen explosions, so better technology is needed. MSRs could operate safely at nearly atmospheric pressure and high temperature, yielding efficient electrical power generation, desalination, actinide incineration, hydrogen production, and other industrial heat applications. Coverage includes: Motivation -- why are we interested? Technical issues – reactor physics, thermal hydraulics, materials, environment, ... Generic designs -- thermal, fast, solid fuel, liquid fuel, ... Specific designs – aimed at electrical power, actinide incineration, thorium utilization, ... Worldwide activities in 23 countries Conclusions This book is a collaboration of 58 authors from 23 countries, written in cooperation with the International Thorium Molten Salt Forum. It can serve as a reference for engineers and scientists, and it can be used as a textbook for graduate students and advanced undergrads. Molten Salt Reactors is the only complete review of the technology currently available, making this an essential text for anyone reviewing the use of MSRs and thorium fuel, including students, nuclear researchers, industrial engineers, and policy makers. Written in cooperation with the International Thorium Molten-Salt Forum Covers MSR-specific issues, various reactor designs, and discusses issues such as the environmental impact, non-proliferation, and licensing Includes case studies and examples from experts across the globe

Advances of Computational Fluid Dynamics in Nuclear Reactor Design and Safety Assessment presents the latest computational fluid dynamic technologies. It includes an evaluation of safety systems for reactors using CFD and their design, the modeling of Severe Accident Phenomena Using CFD, Model Development for Two-phase Flows, and Applications for Sodium and Molten Salt Reactor Designs. Editors Joshi and Nayak have an invaluable wealth of experience that enables them to comment on the development of CFD models, the technologies currently in practice, and the future of CFD in nuclear reactors. Readers will find a thematic discussion on each aspect of CFD applications for the design and safety assessment of Gen II to Gen IV reactor concepts that will help them develop cost reduction strategies for nuclear power plants. Presents a thematic and comprehensive discussion on each aspect of CFD applications for the design and safety assessment of nuclear reactors Provides an historical review of the development of CFD models, discusses state-of-the-art concepts, and takes an applied and analytic look toward the future Includes CFD tools and simulations to advise and guide the reader through enhancing cost effectiveness, safety and performance optimization

Advances in Nuclear Fuel Chemistry presents a high-level description of nuclear fuel chemistry based on the most recent research and advances. Dr. Markus H.A. Piro and his team of global, expert contributors cover all aspects of both the conventional uranium-based nuclear fuel cycle and non-conventional fuel cycles, including mining, refining, fabrication, and long-term storage, as well as emerging nuclear technologies, such as accident tolerant fuels and molten salt materials. Aimed at graduate students, researchers, academics and practicing engineers and regulators, this book will provide the reader with a single reference from which to learn the fundamentals of classical thermodynamics and radiochemistry. Consolidates the latest research on nuclear fuel chemistry into one comprehensive reference, covering all aspects of traditional and non-traditional nuclear fuel cycles Includes contributions from world-renowned experts from many countries representing government, industry and academia Covers a variety of fuel designs, including conventional uranium dioxide, mixed oxides, research reactor fuels, and molten salt fuels Written by experts with hands-on experience in the development of such designs

This collection focuses on ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy where ionic melts, slags, fluxes, or salts play important roles in industrial growth and economy worldwide. Technical topics included are: thermodynamic properties and phase diagrams and kinetics of slags, fluxes, and salts; physical properties of slags, fluxes, and salts; structural studies of slags; interfacial and process phenomena involving foaming, bubble formation, and drainage; slag recycling, refractory erosion/corrosion, and freeze linings; and recycling and utilization of metallurgical slags and models and their applications in process improvement and optimization. These topics are of interest to not only traditional ferrous and non-ferrous metal industrial processes but also new and upcoming technologies.

Operating at a high level of fuel efficiency, safety, proliferation-resistance, sustainability and cost, generation IV nuclear reactors promise enhanced features to an energy resource which is already seen as an outstanding source of reliable base load power. The performance and reliability of materials when subjected to the higher neutron doses and extremely corrosive higher temperature environments that will be found in generation IV nuclear reactors are essential areas of study, as key considerations for the successful development of generation IV reactors are suitable structural materials for both in-core and out-of-core applications. Structural Materials for Generation IV Nuclear Reactors explores the current state-of-the art in these areas. Part One reviews the materials, requirements and challenges in generation IV systems. Part Two presents the core materials with chapters on irradiation resistant austenitic steels, ODS/FM steels and refractory metals amongst others. Part Three looks at out-of-core materials. Structural Materials for Generation IV Nuclear Reactors is an essential reference text for professional scientists, engineers and postgraduate researchers involved in the development of generation IV nuclear reactors. Introduces the higher neutron doses and extremely corrosive higher temperature environments that will be found in generation IV nuclear reactors and implications for structural materials Contains chapters on the key core and out-of-core materials, from steels to advanced micro-laminates Written by an expert in that particular area

Understanding the evolution and advances of energy conversion is critical to meet today’s energy demands while lowering emissions in the fight against climate change. One advancement within nuclear plants that continues to gain interest is molten salt reactors and integrated molten salt reactors, which are the new proposed generation IV small modular reactors. To get up to speed on the latest technology, Molten Salt Reactors and Integrated Molten Salt Reactors: Integrated Power Conversion delivers a critical reference covering the main steps for the application of these reactors. Creating a more environmentally friendly energy production methodology, the reference reviews the past, current, and future states of the reactors including pros and cons, designs and safety features involved, and additional references. Included in the reference is a new approach to energy conversion technology, including coverage on material, economic, and technical challenges towards waste heat recovery, power conversion systems, and advanced computational materials proposed for generation IV systems. Advanced nuclear open air-brayton cycles are also included for higher efficiency. Rounding out with guidance on avoiding salt freezing and salt cleanup for fission and fusion reactors, Molten Salt Reactors and Integrated Molten Salt Reactors: Integrated Power Conversion provides today’s nuclear engineer and power plant engineer with the impactful content of rising efficiency in molten salt reactors, ultimately leading to more efficient and affordable electricity. Gain the latest applications and steps to implement modular reactors, including safety and technical considerations Learn an innovative approach to nuclear air combined cycles (NACC), bringing down the costs of producing electricity in nuclear power plants Practice techniques and computer modeling with additional appendices that include experimental validation methods and computer code results

Written to record and report on recent research progresses in the field of molten salts, Molten Salts Chemistry and Technology focuses on molten salts and ionic liquids for sustainable supply and application of materials. Including coverage of molten salt reactors, electrodeposition, aluminium electrolysis, electrochemistry, and electrowinning, the text provides researchers and postgraduate students with applications include energy conversion (solar cells and fuel cells), heat storage, green solvents, metallurgy, nuclear industry, pharmaceutics and biotechnology.

Molten salts and fused media provide the key properties and the theory of molten salts, as well as aspects of fused salts chemistry, helping you generate new ideas and applications for fused salts. Molten Salts Chemistry: From Lab to Applications examines how the electrical and thermal properties of molten salts, and generally low vapour pressure are well adapted to high temperature chemistry, enabling fast reaction rates. It also explains how their ability to dissolve many inorganic compounds such as oxides, nitrides, carbides and other salts make molten salts ideal as solvents in electrometallurgy, metal coating, treatment of by-products and energy conversion. This book also reviews newer applications of molten salts including materials for energy storage such as carbon nano-particles for efficient super capacitors, high capacity molten salt batteries and for heat transport and storage in solar plants. In addition, owing to their high thermal stability, they are considered as ideal candidates for the development of safer nuclear reactors and for the treatment of nuclear waste, especially to separate actinides from lanthanides by electrorefining. Explains the theory and properties of molten salts to help scientists understand these unique liquids Provides an ideal introduction to this expanding field Illustrated text with key real-life applications of molten salts in synthesis, energy, nuclear, and metal extraction

The Thorium Energy Conference (ThEC13) gathered some of the world’s leading experts on thorium technologies to review the possibility of destroying nuclear waste in the short term, and replacing the uranium fuel cycle in nuclear systems with the thorium fuel cycle in the long term. The latter would provide abundant, reliable and safe energy with no CO2 production, no air pollution, and minimal waste production. The participants, representatives of 30 countries, included Carlo Rubbia, Nobel Prize Laureate in physics and inventor of the Energy Amplifier; Jack Steinberger, Nobel Prize Laureate in physics; Hans Blix, former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Rolf Heuer, Director General of CERN; Pascal Couchepin, former President of the Swiss Confederation; and Claude Haegi, President of the FEDRE, to name just a few. The ThEC13 proceedings are a source of reference on the use of thorium for energy generation. They offer detailed technical reviews of the status of thorium energy technologies, from basic R&D to industrial developments. They also describe how thorium can be used in critical reactors and in subcritical accelerator-driven systems (ADS), answering the important questions: – Why is thorium so attractive and what is the role of innovation, in particular in the nuclear energy domain? – What are the national and international R&D programs on thorium technologies and how are they progressing? ThEC13 was organized jointly by the international Thorium Energy Committee (iThEC), an association based in Geneva, and the International Thorium Energy Organisation (IThEO). It was held in the Globe of Science and Innovation at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), Geneva, Switzerland, in October 2013.

Handbook of Generation IV Nuclear Reactors presents information on the current fleet of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) with water-cooled reactors (Generation III and III+) (96% of 430 power reactors in the world) that have relatively low thermal efficiencies (within the range of 32 36%) compared to those of modern advanced thermal power plants (combined cycle gas-fired power plants – up to 62% and supercritical pressure coal-fired power plants – up to 55%). Moreover, thermal efficiency of the current fleet of NPPs with water-cooled reactors cannot be increased significantly without completely different innovative designs, which are Generation IV reactors. Nuclear power is vital for generating electrical energy without carbon emissions. Complete with the latest research, development, and design, and written by an international team of experts, this handbook is completely dedicated to Generation IV reactors. Presents the first comprehensive handbook dedicated entirely to generation IV nuclear reactors Reviews the latest trends and developments Complete with the latest research, development, and design information in generation IV nuclear reactors Written by an international team of experts in the field

Advances in Thermal Energy Storage Systems, 2nd edition, presents a fully updated comprehensive analysis of thermal energy storage systems (TES) including all major advances and developments since the first edition published. This very successful publication provides readers with all the information related to TES in one resource, along with a variety of applications across the energy/power and construction sectors, as well as, new to this edition, the transport industry. After an introduction to TES systems, editor Dr. Prof. Luisa Cabeza and her team of expert authors consider the source, design and operation of the use of water, molten salts, concrete, aquifers, boreholes and a variety of phase-change materials for TES systems, before analyzing and simulating underground TES systems. This edition benefits from 5 new chapters covering the most advanced technologies including sorption systems, thermodynamic and dynamic modelling as well as applications to the transport industry and the environmental and economic aspects of TES. It will benefit researchers and academics of energy systems and thermal energy storage, construction engineering academics, engineers and practitioners in the energy and power industry, as well as architects of plants and storage systems and R&D managers. Includes 5 brand new chapters covering Sorption systems, Thermodynamic and dynamic models, applications to the transport sector, environmental aspects of TES and economic aspects of TES All existing chapters are updated and revised to reflect the most recent advances in the research and technologies of the field Reviews heat storage technologies, including the use of water, molten salts, concrete and boreholes in one comprehensive resource Describes latent heat storage systems and thermochemical heat storage Includes information on the monitoring and control of thermal energy storage systems, and considers their applications in residential buildings, power plants and industry