Exploring the benefits of molten salt reactors: An analysis of flexibility and safety features using dynamic simulation

Abstract

There has been a growing interest in Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) in recent years due to the significant potential for increasing flexibility, security, and reliability of the grid, as well as the inherent passive safety features when compared to traditional pressurized water reactors (PWRs). MSRs can help meet many future nuclear energy goals, such as improved sustainability, high security, high efficiency, and high safety passive features, and help reduce nuclear waste. In this study, to investigate MSRs’ passive safety features, a dynamic model of 9 graphite nodes and 18 fuel salt nodes are simulated in 7 safety scenarios. These simulation results are compared with a traditional PWR dynamic simulation. The simulation shows the stability of MSR operations during these 7 safety scenarios, showing that the coolant and graphite temperature within the system stay within the safety limits of operation. The negative feedback coefficient of the fuel salt within MSR cores plays a significant role in stabilizing the power response inside the core, keeping the power from significant excursions. A one-year simulation is also conducted to test the load-following capabilities of MSRs in comparison with traditional PWRs. It is found that MSRs increase the flexibility, reliability, and security of the grid by operating in load-following mode without the need to change the position of the control rods. MSR's increased efficiency also leads to a reduction in backup fossil-fuel based electricity generation by 82% when compared to traditional PWRs operating in load-following mode.

Keywords

• Nuclear safety
• Molten salt reactor safety
• Nuclear security
• Flexible nuclear operation
• Grid reliability