Re:1MW Molten-Salt Test Reactor by Copenhagen Atomic for €88...
by achalhp on Monday December 14, 2020 @07:57AM
(#25416927)
I agree. But, in a molten-salt reactor, the vessel and heat exchangers are equivalent to fuel assemblies. Dispose the vessel and heat exchangers similar to Zr-clad million dollar fuel assemblies.(PWR/BWR reload costs $60-100 million per 12-18 months.)
Material wise Zr clad is way more expensive than stainless 3XX & graphite combined. Even if Ni-alloy is used in disposable MSRs Ni-alloy+graphite will be slightly cheaper. (Base metal costs:
Zr metal: ~$22,700/ton
Ni metal: ~$13,100/ton)
Many actinides have volatile fluorides. Fluoride volatility is a proven process used to enrich uranium for LWRs. Fuel salt can be disposed after recovering U & Pu. Vacuum distillation is physical separation, which can also be used to further recover expensive base salt FLi7Be. No vacuum distillation is necessary if inexpensive salt is used.
Material wise Zr clad is way more expensive than stainless 3XX & graphite combined. Even if Ni-alloy is used in disposable MSRs Ni-alloy+graphite will be slightly cheaper. (Base metal costs: Zr metal: ~$22,700/ton Ni metal: ~$13,100/ton)
Many actinides have volatile fluorides. Fluoride volatility is a proven process used to enrich uranium for LWRs. Fuel salt can be disposed after recovering U & Pu. Vacuum distillation is physical separation, which can also be used to further recover expensive base salt FLi7Be. No vacuum distillation is necessary if inexpensive salt is used.