Molten Salt Thermal Property Uncertainty Workshop Report

Abstract

Operation of a molten salt fueled reactor is governed, more so than any other type of reactor, by the thermal properties of the molten salt fuel because it is in a liquid form. The composition of the fuel salt will evolve during use in a reactor, as fission products are generated and corrosion of structural materials release corrosion products into the salt. The recently released NUREG/CR7299 states that fuel qualification for molten salt fuels will be based upon maintaining fuel salt properties within an acceptable range that results in achievement of fundamental safety functions (NUREG/CR-7299). Understanding the dependence of fuel properties on temperature and composition across the anticipated range of operating temperatures, burn-up and anticipated levels of contamination is required to qualify molten salt fuels. Measuring aspects of salt chemistry is appropriately a major thrust of the Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) campaign under the Advanced Reactor Technology program.