A promising fuel for fast neutron spectrum Molten Salt Reactor
NaCl-ThCl4-PuCl3
T. Dumaire (TU Delft - RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials)
Jaen A. Ocádiz-Flores (TU Delft - RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials)
R. J M Konings (TU Delft - RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials, European Commission Joint Research Centre)
Anna L. Smith (TU Delft - RST/Reactor Physics and Nuclear Materials)
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Abstract
Chloride salts are considered a good alternative to fluoride salts as fuel carrier in the Molten Salt Fast Reactor concepts. The NaCl–ThCl4–PuCl3 fuel salt solution seems very promising, with low melting temperature eutectic compositions, and the potential to be used in a breeder and burner type of reactor design. This work focuses on the first thermodynamic modeling assessment of the ThCl4–PuCl3 binary system and the NaCl–ThCl4–PuCl3 ternary system, using the CALPHAD (Computer Coupling of Phase Diagrams and Thermochemistry) method and the quasichemical formalism in the quadruplet approximation. The investigated system shows potential for a high flexibility with respect to composition at operating temperatures, which can be beneficial to accommodate the requirements on other essential fuel properties (e.g. neutronic and thermo-hydraulic).
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