The Interplay between Breeding and Thermal Feedback in a Molten Chlorine Fast Reactor

Bruno Merk, Anna Detkina, Dzianis Litskevich, Seddon Atkinson and Gregory Cartland-Glover
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Bruno Merk: School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK
Anna Detkina: School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK
Dzianis Litskevich: School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK
Seddon Atkinson: School of Engineering, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GH, UK
Gregory Cartland-Glover: Scientific Computing Department, Science and Technology Facilities Council, Daresbury Laboratory, SciTech Daresbury, Cheshire WA4 4AD, UK

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-15

Abstract: The energy trilemma and UN SDG 7 form the key drivers for the future of all kinds of energy research. In nuclear technology, molten salt reactors are an interesting option, since they can offer a game-changing approach to deliver an attractive, highly sustainable option for a zero-carbon society by providing sufficient breeding for a self-sustained long-term operation based on spent nuclear fuel from existing reactors while being able to be controlled ideally by inherent processes. To achieve these goals, several basic challenges have already been identified and worked on; demonstration of sufficient breeding and development of a demand driven salt clean up system. This study follows up on the opportunity for reactor control based on inherent feedback mechanisms. It is demonstrated that the investigated sodium chloride-uranium chloride-based systems can feasibly deliver a thermal feedback effect, which is strong enough, to compensate for the critically change due to breeding and fission product accumulation for two different compositions. The achieved results provide a very positive outlook on the system inherent ability for reactor self-control and even for the feasibility of a load following operation based on inherent feedback effects instead of massive and costly manual/automated control system operation.

Keywords: nuclear energy; nuclear reactors; molten salt reactors; closed fuel cycle; feedback effects; reactor control; homogenous reactor; spent nuclear fuel; sustainability; low carbon technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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