Engineering and physical design of a molten salt reactor for transmutation of Np, Am, and Cm from spent VVER fuel

Abstract

This article presents the engineering and physical design of a molten salt reactor (MSR) with circulating fuel based on LiF–BeF₂ salt mixtures, intended for the transmutation of neptunium (Np), americium (Am), and curium (Cm). Neutronic calculations demonstrate the feasibility of constructing a high-power MSR with a transmutation rate of at least 250 kg/year of Np, Am, and Cm. The proposed reactor layout suggests that a modular loop configuration is optimal for enhancing transmutation efficiency. In this design, the reactor, equipment, and primary circuit pipelines are arranged within a compact protective housing, which serves to minimize the volume of fuel salt outside the reactor core. Figure: 6, Tables: 4, References: 3.