TMSR-LF1
TMSR-LF1 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Generation | IV | ||||
Reactor concept | MSR | ||||
Status | Active | ||||
Location | China[note] | ||||
| |||||
Coordinates | 38°57′37″N 102°36′44″E / 38.9602°N 102.6122°E | ||||
Main parameters of the reactor core | |||||
Fuel (fissile material) | HALEU | ||||
Fuel state | Liquid | ||||
Neutron energy spectrum | Thermal | ||||
Primary control method | Rods | ||||
Primary moderator | Graphite | ||||
Primary coolant | FLiBe | ||||
Reactor usage | |||||
Primary use | Prototyping | ||||
Power (thermal) | 2 MW | ||||
Criticality (date) | October 2023 | ||||
Operator/owner | SINAP |
TMSR-LF1 (
The project was started in 2011 at a cost of ¥ 3 billion ($US 450 million). Construction of the reactor started in 2018 and was completed in 2021. In 2022, its commissioning plan was approved, and it plans to startup for the first 5–8 years running in batch mode, before converting to continuous mode.[6]
History
[edit]In January 2011, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) began the TMSR research and development project to create reactors which, among other advances, will use air cooling.[7] CAS assigned the project to its Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP), which now has MSR research and design facilities in the Jiading District.[8] The liquid fuel ("LF") design is based on the 1960s Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US.[9] The TMSR project is led by Xu Hongjie (
Construction began in September 2018.[6] At the groundbreaking, a Taoist ceremony was held; after images of it went viral in China (an atheist state), CAS disciplined staff members, and issued a public apology.[12] Construction was expected to finish in August 2021, with testing to follow.[13][14] In August 2022, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment informed SINAP that its commissioning plan for the LF1 had been approved.[6] A ten-year operating license was issued in June 2023.[15][16] Criticality was first achieved in October of that same year.[17]
Specifications
[edit]The TMSR-LF1 is a Generation IV reactor constructed with the following specifications:[18][19][20]
- Thermal power: 2MW
- Fuel salt: FLiBe (>99.95% Li-7) with fluorides of zirconium, uranium (HALEU: 19.75% U-235), and thorium
- inlet temperature: 630 °C
- outlet temperature: 650 °C
- volume: 1.68 m3
- flow rate: ~50 kg/s
- Coolant salt: FLiBe
- inlet temperature: 560 °C
- outlet temperature: 580 °C
- flow rate: ~42 kg/s
- Cover gas: Argon (0.05 MPa)
- volume: 1.6 m3
- Moderator: nuclear graphite
- Structural Material: UNS N10003 superalloy
- Lifetime: 10 years
- Equivalent full power days: 300
- Max full power days per year: 60
Future plans
[edit]A small modular reactor (SMR) based on the LF1, as well as a fuel salt research facility, is planned for the same site. New reactor specifications include: core graphite 3 m tall x 2.2 m wide, 700 °C operating temperature, 60 MW thermal output, and an experimental supercritical carbon dioxide-based closed-cycle gas turbine to convert the thermal output to 10 MW of electricity.[1] Construction is slated to start in 2025, and be completed by 2029. The project would also include a high-temperature hydrolysis component, for hydrogen generation. Following the completion of the 10 MW project, in 2030 construction will begin on commercial SMRs of at least 100 MWe.[17] These are likely to be sited in central and western China, and may also be built outside China in Belt and Road Initiative nations; as low-carbon power plants, they would help to achieve the Chinese government's 2060 goal of carbon neutrality.[13]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "
小型 模 块化钍基熔盐堆 研究 设施项目环境影 响报告 书(选址阶段)[Small Modular Thorium Molten Salt Reactor Research Facility Project Environmental Impact Report (site selection stage)]" (PDF). SINAP. August 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023. - ^ http://finance.eastmoney.com/news/1350,20180329850624284.html Archived 8 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine 实验
平台 及配套项目 拟选址 于武威 市民 勤 县红砂 岗工业集聚区,南 侧紧邻纬七 路 、东侧紧邻东环路 。 - ^ Tennenbaum, Jonathan (4 February 2020). "Molten salt and traveling wave nuclear reactors". Asia Times. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
- ^ Liu, Yafen; Yan, Rui; Zou, Yang; Yu, Shihe; Zhou, Bo; Kang, Xuzhong; Hu, Jifeng; Cai, Xiangzhou (1 April 2020). "Sensitivity/uncertainty comparison and similarity analysis between TMSR-LF1 and MSR models". Progress in Nuclear Energy. 122: 103289. doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2020.103289. ISSN 0149-1970. S2CID 213115060. Retrieved 5 November 2020.
- ^ "The off-line installation and start-up of the thorium-based molten salt experimental reactor body and the first cooling salt discharge". SINAP (in Chinese (China)). 23 December 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
- ^ a b c "Chinese molten-salt reactor cleared for start up". World Nuclear News. World Nuclear Association. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
- ^ Dai Zhimin, Zou Yang, and Chen Kun (4 November 2016). "Thorium Molten Salt Reactors (TMSR) Development in China" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "
中国科学院 上海 应用物理 研究所 财务与资产处岗位 招聘 启事". Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022.中国科学院 上海 应用物理 研究所 是 国立 综合性 核 科学 技 术研究 机 构,以钍基 熔盐堆 核 能 系 统、高 效能 源 存 储与转换等 先 进能源 科学 技 术为主要 研究 方向 ,同 时兼顾核技 术在环境、健康 、材料 领域的 若干 前 沿应用 研究 ,致力于熔盐堆、钍铀燃料 循环、核 能 综合利用 等 领域的 关键技 术研发。研究所 总体发展目 标是用 15年 左右 时间,以提高 核 能 安全 性 、核 燃料 长期供 应及放射 性 废物最小 化 为目标,在国 际上率先 实现钍基熔盐堆 核 能 系 统(TMSR)的 系 统验证和工 业应用 。研究所 拥有两大园区,其中液 态熔盐实验堆的 研究 与 设计总部坐 落在上海 市 科技 卫星城 嘉 定 区 ,实验堆 坐 落在甘 肃省武威 市民 勤 县,两园区分 别占地面 积共约400和 1000亩。 - ^ Richard Martin (2 August 2016). "Fail-Safe Nuclear Power". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
- ^ "
徐 洪 杰:钍基熔盐堆 核 能 系 统(TMSR)现状与 展望 ". 27 September 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022. - ^ "
民 勤 红沙岗工业园区 ". Website of Wuwei, Gansu. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2022.民 勤 红沙岗工业园区 位 于民勤 县红砂 岗镇 ["Minqin Hongshagang Industrial Park is located in Hongshagang Town, Minqin County"...]低 碳新能 源 产业区 :位 于规划区东部,以第四代反应堆核能系统—钍基熔盐堆 核 能 系 统(TMSR)项目为基础,拓 展 高温 制 氢、布 雷 顿循环发电和二氧化碳资源利用,建 成 模 块化钍基熔盐示 范堆、大 规模低 碳新能 源 示 范系统等,形成 以模块化钍基熔盐堆 为核心的 低 碳高效 复合能 源 系 统研发、示 范与产业化 基地 。["Low-carbon new energy industrial zone: located in the east of the planning area, based on the fourth-generation reactor nuclear energy system-thorium-based molten salt reactor nuclear energy system (TMSR) project, to expand high-temperature hydrogen production, Brayton cycle power generation and carbon dioxide resource utilization, and build modules. A thorium-based molten salt demonstration reactor, a large-scale low-carbon new energy demonstration system, etc., have formed a low-carbon and high-efficiency composite energy system R&D, demonstration and industrialization base with a modular thorium-based molten salt reactor as the core."] - ^ "2 nuclear scientists suspended for failing to stop Taoist ritual". China Daily. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
- ^ a b Stephen Chen (19 July 2021). "Could China's molten salt nuclear reactor be a clean, safe source of power?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
- ^ Smriti Mallapaty (9 September 2021). "China prepares to test thorium-fuelled nuclear reactor". Nature. 597 (7876): 311–312. Bibcode:2021Natur.597..311M. doi:10.1038/d41586-021-02459-w. PMID 34504330. S2CID 237471852. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
- ^ "China's experimental molten salt reactor receives licence". Nuclear Engineering International. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "关于颁发2MWt
液 态燃料 钍基熔盐实验堆 运行许可证的通知 ". Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). 7 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023. - ^ a b Chen, Stephen (26 July 2024). "China sets launch date for world's first thorium molten salt nuclear power station". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 29 July 2024.
- ^ Hongjie Xu. Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (27 September 2018). "Progress of TMSR in China" (PDF). Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ Yang Zou. SINAP, CAS (4–5 July 2019). "Research Progress of TMSR design" (PDF). Retrieved 25 May 2021.
- ^ Chen, Chang-Qi; Xia, Xiao-Bin; Zhang, Zhi-Hong; Cai, Jun; Li, Chang-Yuan (2019). "Radiological environmental impact analysis of a 2-MW thorium molten salt reactor during an accident". Nuclear Science and Techniques. 30 (5). doi:10.1007/s41365-019-0605-3. ISSN 1001-8042. S2CID 145927937.
Notes
[edit]^Location: the LF1 reactor is sited within an industrial park located in Hongshagang (town), Minqin (county), Wuwei (prefecture), Gansu (province), China. As per official documentation, the TMSR-LF1 site is located at 38°57'31" N, 102°36'55" E. However, due to the China GPS shift problem, the reactor location using Western GPS coordinates is approximately 38°57'36.7" N, 102°36'43.7" E (about a third of a kilometer offset).
External links
[edit]- Molten Salt Reactors ("China's dual programme" section) from the World Nuclear Association
- IAEA Research Reactor Database See TMSR-LF1 entry (CN0021)