Radiochemical Facilities for the Molten Salts in Nuclear Technologies Network

Completed

Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fission, Nuclear supporting technologies)

Basic and strategic applied research

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Chemistry)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics)
PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Metallurgy and Materials)
ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (Chemical Engineering)

Not Cross-cutting

Dr CA Sharrad
Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science
University of Manchester

Standard

EPSRC

01 November 2019

30 April 2023

42 months

£2,332,571

Energy

North West

National Nuclear Users Facility

Dr CA Sharrad, Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester

Professor TJ Abram, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
Dr D Brett, Chemical Engineering, University College London
Professor M A Burke, Materials, University of Manchester
Dr BJ Connolly, Metallurgy and Materials, University of Birmingham
Dr S Holmes, Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science, University of Manchester
Dr A Jones, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester
Dr A Mount, Sch of Chemistry, University of Edinburgh
Dr M Ogden, Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Sheffield
Dr P Shearing, Chemical Engineering, University College London
Dr J Turner, Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester

The Molten Salt in Nuclear Technology Laboratory (MSNTL) aims to provide a network of research equipment and expertise to support the recently expanding interests in molten salt technologies for use in next generation nuclear fuel cycles. Recent world-wide interest in molten salt reactor (MSR) technology in advanced nuclear reactor designs presents an ideal opportunity to utilise the UK's established expertise in spent nuclear fuel pyroprocessing to make a vital contribution to the emerging development of this reactor type. Even though there has recently been substantial investment in MSR designs across numerous companies and institutes, there are still substantial research challenges that need to be addressed to allow the deployment of these advanced reactors. The MSNTL addresses a gap in capability by providing user access to state-of-the-art research facilities that can safely handle fluoride melts (the dominant salt type in MSRs) with radionuclides and radiation doses that will be present in these reactor process environments. The equipment provided in the MSNTL will allow the safe assessment of salt and materials behavior in process-like demanding environments, and enable the development of valid management strategies for waste streams from molten salt technologies. The MSNTL forms a key component in a large network of facilities that can provide comprehensive assessments of molten salt technologies across radioactivity levels and process scales

23/08/21