Molten-salt reactors for efficient nuclear fuel utilization without plutonium separation

Technical Report · 01 August 1978

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6650305· OSTI ID:6650305

Engel, J R; Grimes, W R; Rhoades, W A; Dearing, J F

Research and development studies of molten-salt reactors (MSRs) for special purposes have been under way since 1947 and for possible application as possible commercial nuclear electric power generators since 1956. For the latter, the previous emphasis has been on breeding performance and low fissile inventory to help limit the demand on nonrenewable natural resources (uranium) in an expanding nuclear economy; little or no thought has been given to alternative uses of nuclear fuels such as proliferation of nuclear explosives. As a consequence, the conceptual designs that evolved (e.g., the ORNL reference design MSBR) all favored enriched /sup 233/U as fuel with an on-site chemical processing facility from which portions of that fuel could be diverted fairly easily. With the current interest in limiting the proliferation potential of nuclear electric power systems, a redirected study of MSRs was undertaken in an effort to identify conceptual systems that would be attractive in this situation. It appears that practical proliferation-resistant MSRs could be designed and built, and the report describes a particularly attractive break-even breeder that includes an on-site chemical reprocessing facility within the reactor primary containment.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6650305
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-6413
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050800 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Spent Fuels Reprocessing
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS
210500* -- Power Reactors
Breeding
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BREEDER REACTORS
DESIGN
ENERGY SOURCES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FUEL CYCLE
FUELS
HEAVY NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LIQUID FUELS
MOLTEN SALT FUELS
MOLTEN SALT REACTORS
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEI
PLANNING
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
REPROCESSING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
URANIUM 233
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES