Estimates of noble metal particle growth in a molten salt reactor

Within the H2020-Euratom project SAMOSAFER, research is currently ongoing into Molten Salt Fast Reactor (MSFR) concept in which nuclear fuel dissolved a liquid salt. A major challenge MSFR online and offline treatment of salt order to remove plethora fission products. Noble metals are type such products, atoms thought coagulate particles as result diffusion. Due their low solubility, noble metal will deposit onto interfaces solid walls but also on bubbles, was observed Experiment (MSRE) at Oak Ridge national laboratory. The relatively large interfacial area generated by bubbles makes or bubbling, therefore, an interesting option extract from limit wall deposition. However, understand performance bubbling process, particle sizes must be known. Particle size distributions arise complex interplay atomic formation decay, growth coagulation removal In this paper, theory developed these mechanisms semi-analytical level, provide estimates MSFR. governing partial differential equation reduced set ordinary equations using method moments, revealing dynamics underlying physics. We show that particles, up micrometer scale, can reactor, only very long operational times. Moreover, we previously assumed ‘cycle time’ 30 s feasible high void fractions. work contributes significantly qualitative understanding behavior MSR. potentially help explain certain phenomena MSRE assist future design safe reliable MSRs.