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MOLTEN FLUORIDES AS POWER REACTOR FUELS

Journal Article · · Nuclear Sci. and Eng.
OSTI ID:4322654
Molten fluorides of uranium, thorium, plutonium, and other elements potentially- have wide applicability- as fuels for power reactors. Because of their low vapor pressure they' can be used in very high-temperature but low- pressure liquid-fuel reactors. In addition, they- possess great chemical flexibility-the molten-salt principle can be applied to burners, thorium-uranium thermal breeders, plutoniumuranium converters, and possibly- even to fast plutonium breeders. Because of the very- high thermal efficiency obtainable in reactors using molten salt fuel, the fuel cost in a simple burner using enriched U/sup 235/ is of the order of 2 to 3 mills/kwhr. A high-temperature reactor using molten uranium salts (Aircraft Reactor- Experiment) was operated for a short time at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The reactor was of the circulating-fuel type, with a BeO moderator. The maximum outlet temperature achieved was greater than l500 deg F. lt is believed that with further development the ARE could bc a prototype for an economical uranium burner. (auth)
Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
NSA Number:
NSA-12-003291
OSTI ID:
4322654
Journal Information:
Nuclear Sci. and Eng., Journal Name: Nuclear Sci. and Eng. Vol. Vol: 2
Country of Publication:
Country unknown/Code not available
Language:
English

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