Fluoride-Salt-Cooled High-Temperature Reactor: An Integrated Nuclear-Based Energy Production and Conversion System

Abstract

Based on the analysis of energy structure and the development trends of advanced nuclear energy technology, combining the complementary advantages of nuclear energy and other energy sources in China, the Fluoride-salt-cooled High-temperature Reactor(FuSTAR) system has been proposed. FuSTAR system is designed to address production capacity issues in areas with energy shortages or resource concentration and can be combined with high-temperature process heat to achieve high-value-added processes such as hydrogen production. In this paper, the design and optimization processes of FuSTAR are described from three aspects: the neutronic and thermal-hydraulic system, the thermal transport system, and the power cycle system. Tri-structural isotropic fuel combined with helical cruciform elements has been studied in detail on the neutron physics and thermal-hydraulic properties, and the flow and heat transfer experiment is carried out for the first time. The multilayer nonlinear programming method has been applied to the design of thermal transport systems and the passive residual heat removal system and proved to be fast and efficient. Then the optimal parameters and configuration of the thermoelectric conversion system are obtained directly by using the superstructure optimization method, which saves computing resources greatly. Based on the above design and parameters, the inherent safety of FuSTAR is demonstrated through deterministic safety analysis. In addition, the iodine-sulfur cycle technology is also designed and analyzed, and the characteristics of tritium production in FuSTAR are calculated. The research provides important guidance for the detailed design and operation of FuSTAR. Moreover, this study highlights the significant potential of integrating nuclear energy with other energy sources in an optimized energy-production system. Based on the current research findings, prospects for future research directions are also suggested.

Keywords: Fluoride-salt Reactor, FuSTAR, Design, Hydrogen, Tritium