Work

Advancing molten salt reactor technologies: Prioritizing standardisation needs and bridging gaps

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • MSR deployment requires integration of experiments and physics, and data-driven modelling. • Propose to start a standardisation roadmap and code-of-practice that provides still sufficient flexibility. • Priorities are thermo-physical measurements, fuel cycle qualification, material codification and safety evaluation. • Gain experience and validate solutions via construction and operation of prototypes and reactors. This article outlines key standardisation needs for specific topics related to molten salt reactors (MSR), namely measurements of thermo-physical properties, safety evaluation, qualification of fuels and fuel cycles, and codes & standards for materials and components. It also explores strategies for bridging gaps in international standardisation, harmonisation and collaboration, and raises the importance of building MSR prototypes and investing in testing facilities. This article is based on a survey and direct inputs from a Putting Science into Standards workshop held on 18 and 19 March 2024 and organised by the European Commissions’ Joint Research Centre (JRC) and European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC). The workshop gathered 100 experts from research, industry and policy making to discuss the development and standardisation of MSR technologies. By working together at European and international levels, standardisation will be a key instrument to enable the development and commercialisation of mature MSR technologies to support the European Union’s goal of achieving fully functioning small modular reactors by 2030.

Source: Nuclear Engineering and Design

DOI: 10.1016/j.nucengdes.2025.114495