The future is becoming of a present-day occurrence, in terms of technology. There is always something new coming out. When it comes to nuclear power, there are advances in molten salt reactors. What are these reactors? What are their benefits and disadvantages? How are they the future to nuclear power?
It is important to discuss what nuclear power is before getting into what molten salt reactors are because they go hand in hand with one another. So, what is nuclear energy? It is when “…the nucleus of a very large atom can split in two. In this process, a certain amount of the large atom’s mass is converted to pure energy following Einstein’s famous formula E = MC2 where M is small amount of mass and C is the speed of light” (What is). In finding out about the formula’s success, many discovered that the energy could be used as weapons, hence the ‘nuclear weapons’ during the 30’s and 40’s.
Knowing what nuclear power is, we can now discuss what molten salt reactors are. “Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) are nuclear reactors that use a fluid fuel in the form of very hot fluoride or chloride salt instead of the solid fuel used in most reactors” (Touran). Touran also states that since the fuel salt is liquid, it is used as fuel and coolant, which can be helpful in safety and sustainability.
Essentially, molten salt reactors extend help with the coolant of the reactor and sustainability with the fuel. It also provides advantages within the easiness and safety within the reactors. The safety is unparalleled because you can walk away from it. “They cannot melt down as can conventional reactors because they are molten by design. An operator cannot even force an MSR to overheat. Even a human engineered breach (such as a terrorist attack) of an MSR cannot cause any significant release of radioactivity” (Williams).
Another benefit of molten salt reactors is that it is cheaper than getting the energy from coal. “MSRs can be made cheaply because they are simple compared to conventional reactors that have large pressurized containment domes” and have fewer parts, making MSRs cheaper (Williams).
Among the other benefits, I think the most important one is that the reactors are more ecological. “Nuclear power plants emit nothing into the environment except hot water” (What is). They are better for the environment. “The spend nuclear fuel can be handled properly and disposed of geologically without affecting the environment in any way” (What is).
However, with all the benefits that molten salt reactors have, it also has its disadvantages. “Tritium production. If lithium is used in the salt, tritium will be produced, which is radioactive and extremely mobile” and “Remote maintenance. The chemical plants will need periodic maintenance, but all of the equipment will be highly radioactive” (Touran).
Clearly, molten salt reactors are the future. There are many benefits that could help with this area of science and production of them. I could see more being used in the upcoming years and we might see a difference in nuclear waste and with the carbon dioxide emissions.
References
Touran, N. (2016). Molten Salt Reactors. Retrieved June 17, 2017, from https://whatisnuclear.com/reactors/msr.html
Touran, N. (2016). What is Nuclear Energy? Retrieved June 17, 2017, from https://whatisnuclear.com/articles/nucenergy.html
Williams , S. (2017, March 15). Molten Salt Reactors: The Future of Green Energy? Retrieved June 17, 2017, from http://www.zmescience.com/ecology/what-is-molten-salt-reactor-424343/
