| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T23: Materials Science & Technology
|
| Symposium
|
Thermodynamics of Materials in Extreme Environments
|
| Presentation Title |
Thermodynamics of Molten Salts for the Fluoride Salt Cooled High-temperature Reactor |
| Author(s) |
Jacob McMurray, Gus Merwin, Francesco Carotti, Som Mossadeghian, Ryan Gallagher, Kaitlin Johnson, Kevin Chan, Matt Denman, George Young |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Jacob McMurray |
| Abstract Scope |
The Kairos Power Fluoride Salt Cooled High-Temperature Reactor (KP-FHR) uses a LiF-BeF2 based molten salt for a primary coolant. The fuel form is tri-structural isotropic (TRISO) particles in a graphite pebble matrix. While safety margins are uniquely large for this design, much of the system, for example the primary loop and reactor vessel, is considered an extreme environment. Both the fuel and salt experience high temperatures with relatively short reaction times rendering thermodynamic calculations highly valuable for understanding conservative, bounding chemical behavior for reactor design. Specifically, phase transformations and mass transport are driven by chemical potentials while equilibrium partial pressures influence vaporization phenomena. These are fundamental thermodynamic properties. An overview of the KP-FHR technology will be presented followed by examples of thermodynamic modeling with application to salt chemistry, material corrosion behavior, and radionuclide transport phenomena with broad relevance to molten salt reactors including the KP-FHR. |