New measurement methods and physico-chemical properties of the MSFR salt

Abstract

The Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) is one of the six types of Generation IV nuclear energy systems with the main goals of sustainability, safety, reliability, economic competitiveness and proliferation resistance. This technology has spawn interest worldwide. Numerous universities, institutes and companies are carrying out research projects related to molten salt reactors. In Europe, the research is focused on the development of a fast-spectrum design, the Molten Salt Fast Reactor (MSFR). The peculiarity and innovation of the MSR technology is the use of liquid fuel; a molten salt mixture in which both fissile and fertile isotopes are dissolved. A number of technological challenges must be addressed for the design of the reactor and the safety approach must be established. The highest priority issues are in the area of fuel salt development, structural materials, on-site fuel processing and the licensing procedure. Fundamental research needs to be conducted to determine thermodynamic and kinetic data of fuel salts. One of the aims of the project that led to this thesis is the characterization of the fuel salt under normal and accidental conditions, providing the basis for the safety evaluation of the reactor. Reliable data on the thermal properties of molten salt mixtures are scarce. This research focuses on the experimental evaluation of some thermodynamic properties of molten salts. The thesis presents new methods for measuring thermal diffusivity and viscosity, and established methods for measuring melting point and dissolution of the salt in water...