Molten Salt Fuels: Properties, Purification, and Corrosion Control

Abstract

The defining characteristic of molten salt reactors (MSRs) is the use of molten salts as the primary heat transfer medium, operating at or near atmospheric pressure, and at temperatures above 500°C. The fuel may be dissolved into the circulating salt, allowing a possibility for online salt processing, or the fuel may be in a solid form immersed in the coolant salt. Fluoride salt systems have received the most attention and have been used in two demonstration reactors. Nevertheless, chloride salt systems are also proposed for development and deployment. Molten salt properties, their purification, and corrosion control in molten salt systems are important aspects of molten salts for reactor application.