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INL makes first fuel for Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment
Idaho National Laboratory has announced the creation of the first batch of enriched uranium chloride fuel salt for the Molten Chloride Reactor Experiment (MCRE). INL said that its fuel production team delivered the first fuel salt batch at the end of September, and it intends to produce four additional batches by March 2026. MCRE will require a total of 72–75 batches of fuel salt for the reactor to go critical.
Ralph W. Moir
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 15 | Number 2 | March 1989 | Pages 1114-1118
Alternate Fuels and Innovative Confinement Concept | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A39842
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
This paper discusses a modified version of the PACER concept for power and nuclear material production. In the PACER concept, a 20-kt peaceful nuclear explosion is contained in a cavity about 200 m in diameter, filled with 200 atm of 500°C steam. Energy from the explosion is used to produce power, and the neutrons are used to produce materials such as 233U. The present idea is to modify the PACER concept in three ways to improve the practicality, predictability, and safety of power production from this technology and thus improve public acceptance of this power source. These improvements are (1) line the cavity with steel; (2) replace the steam with molten salt, LiF + BeF2; and (3) reduce the explosive yield to about 2 kt. PACER is the only fusion power concept where the underlying technology of the power source itself is proven and in hand today. The molten-salt shock-suppression and heat transport system and the durability of the underground cavity need demonstration.