Advancing molten salt reactor technologies

Prioritizing standardisation needs and bridging gaps

Journal Article (2025)
Author(s)

A. Jenet (European Commission)

P. Souček (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)

K. F. Nilsson (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)

A. Caverzan (European Commission - Joint Research Centre)

E. Capelli (Orano)

P. Paviet (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

M. Rose (Argonne National Laboratory)

D. Holcomb (Idaho National Laboratory)

A. Smith (TU Delft - Applied Sciences)

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Research Group
RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials
DOI related publication
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nucengdes.2025.114495 Final published version
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Research Group
RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials
Journal title
Nuclear Engineering and Design
Volume number
445
Article number
114495
Downloads counter
104
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Abstract

This article outlines key standardisation needs for specific topics related to molten salt reactors (MSR), namely measurements of thermo-physical properties, safety evaluation, qualification of fuels and fuel cycles, and codes & standards for materials and components. It also explores strategies for bridging gaps in international standardisation, harmonisation and collaboration, and raises the importance of building MSR prototypes and investing in testing facilities. This article is based on a survey and direct inputs from a Putting Science into Standards workshop held on 18 and 19 March 2024 and organised by the European Commissions’ Joint Research Centre (JRC) and European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC). The workshop gathered 100 experts from research, industry and policy making to discuss the development and standardisation of MSR technologies. By working together at European and international levels, standardisation will be a key instrument to enable the development and commercialisation of mature MSR technologies to support the European Union's goal of achieving fully functioning small modular reactors by 2030.