Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP) are engaged in a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) focused on accelerating scientific understanding and technical development of salt-cooled reactors, specifically fluoride salt-cooled high-temperature reactors (FHRs). The project will draw on ORNL’s expertise in fuels, materials, instrumentation and controls, design concepts, and modeling and simulation for advanced reactors, as well as the lab’s experience in the design, construction and operation of the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment, the only molten salt reactor ever built. (Design began in 1960, construction started early in 1962. The 7.4 MWth test reactor operated successfully from 1965 to 1969.) . . . .
FHRs. FHRs feature low-pressure liquid fluoride salt cooling; solid coated particle fuel; carbon-based neutron moderation; fully passive decay heat rejection; and a high temperature power cycle. FHRs have the potential to economically and reliably produce large quantities of electricity and high temperature process heat while maintaining full passive safety, according to ORNL. Leveraging the inherent safety characteristics of FHRs avoids the need for expensive, redundant safety structures, systems, and components (SSCs), providing the opportunity for substantial cost reduction.