FC-MSR nuclear reactor

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See also: Nuclear_power_reconsidered
© Image: Elysium Industries
Diagram and specifications for the reactor.[1]

Molten chloride salt fast reactor (MCSFR)[2] is a Molten Salt Reactor[3] using fast neutrons.[4][5] Fast neutron reactors are capable of burning spent nuclear fuel and bomb cores. This article should address the issues raised in the parent article Nuclear power reconsidered.

Safety

Accidental overheating. Add text here.

Leakage of Radioactivity Add text here.

Sabotage Add text here.

Waste Management

Add text here.

Weapons Proliferation

Normal reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel from standard water This video clip is the clearest explanation of Elysium's process for making fresh fuel from plutonium bomb cores and spent fuel rods. It is called "conversion" rather than "reprocessing", because they are able to avoid the extraction processes that could lead to weapons-grade plutonium. Spent fuel rods from standard light water reactors are chopped into 2cm chunks and dissolved in a vat of molten salt. Plutonium from bomb cores, "denatured" with reactor-grade plutonium, is dissolved in the same vat. At no point in the process is there ever any weapons-grade plutonium. The fission products in the spent fuel rods, typically 4% of the original uranium, are left in place. This is possible because the MCSFR is a fast neutron reactor that can tolerate up to 40% contamination with fission products.

Cost

Specs for a 500MWe plant:
Plant cost per KW (including building but not land, permits or licensing):
Operating cost per KWh (including fuel and maintenance):
Initial fuel load:
Fuel consumption per day:

Notes and References

  1. This is a footnote to an image caption.
  2. Elysium Industries MCSFR Ed Pheil, the designer, speaks at Thorium Energy Alliance 2019.
  3. Molten Salt Reactors World Nuclear Association Information Library.
  4. Fast Neutron Reactors World Nuclear Association Information Library.
  5. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fast-neutron_reactor