Chinese molten-salt nuclear reactor cleared for start up two years ahead of schedule.

[NNadir]

Chinese molten-salt reactor cleared for start up

The article access is free, but here are a few excerpts:

The Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) - part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) - has been given approval by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment to commission an experimental thorium-powered molten-salt reactor, construction of which started in Wuwei city, Gansu province, in September 2018...

...Construction of the 2 MWt TMSR-LF1 reactor began in September 2018 and was reportedly completed in August 2021. The prototype was scheduled to be completed in 2024, but work was accelerated.

"According to the relevant provisions of the Nuclear Safety Law of the People's Republic of China and the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Safety Supervision and Administration of Civilian Nuclear Facilities, our bureau has conducted a technical review of the application documents you submitted, and believes that your 2 MWt liquid fuel thorium-based molten salt experimental reactor commissioning plan (Version V1.3) is acceptable and is hereby approved," the Ministry of Ecology and Environment told SINAP on 2 August.

It added: "During the commissioning process of your 2 MWt liquid fuel thorium-based molten salt experimental reactor, you should strictly implement this plan to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of the plan and ensure the safety and quality of debugging. If any major abnormality occurs during the commissioning process, it should be reported to our bureau and the Northwest Nuclear and Radiation Safety Supervision Station in time..."

From the full text, it appears to differ somewhat from the MSRE that operated in the 1960's at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. This reactor type has received lots of positive attention, particularly with the public, and initially I was quite fond of the concept. I've cooled on it somewhat based on some of the details I've learned over the years, but I fully support liquid phase fueled reactors; it's just that I think there are better forms of them than FLIBE types.

This reactor, like that which operated at Oak Ridge, is experimental.

The article notes that the reactor does not require water cooling and presumably its operating temperature will be high enough to allow for flexible uses, for instance in driving useful chemical reactions. Depending on how it operates, it may be able to achieve extraordinary thermal efficiency far greater than that achieved by even the best dangerous fossil fuel plants, currently represented by combined cycle dangerous natural gas power plants.

I trust you're enjoying your weekend.