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Structural Materials for Molten Salt Reactors

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A Treatise on Corrosion Science, Engineering and Technology

Part of the book series: Indian Institute of Metals Series ((IIMS))

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Abstract

Molten salt reactors (MSR) are Generation-IV fission reactors. MSR is a class of nuclear fission reactors in which the coolant is a mixture of molten salts. They are very compact design of nuclear reactors. Many agencies working on this conclude that MSR can deliver a safe, economical, sustainable energy, without generation of CO2 gas. As MSRs operate at very high temperatures compared to water cooled reactors, they have high thermodynamic efficiency. The molten salts are more efficient than compressed helium as it can remove more heat from core, hence making the system more compact. However, many constraints have been identified which could create setbacks in MSR. Many of these have been addressed to a large extent by various research works that were carried out throughout the world. This paper reviews the evolution of molten salts as coolant and since the Indian nuclear program has identified FLiNaK as one of the candidate coolants for the Indian MSR, a review on the degradation of structural materials in FLiNaK medium is also presented and discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    Y. V. Harinath, T. V. Krishna Mohan & S. Rangarajan

  2. Metallurgy and Materials Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, 603102, India

    Shaju K. Albert

  3. Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushakti Nagar Complex, Mumbai, 400094, India

    Y. V. Harinath, S. Rangarajan & Shaju K. Albert

Authors
  1. Y. V. Harinath
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  2. T. V. Krishna Mohan
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  3. S. Rangarajan
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  4. Shaju K. Albert
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Y. V. Harinath .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Vice Chancellor, VIT Bhopal University, Bhopal, India

    U. Kamachi Mudali

  2. Biofouling and Biofilm Processes Section, Water and Steam Chemistry Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Kalpakkam, India

    Toleti Subba Rao

  3. Aqueous Corrosion and Protection Section Metallurgy and Materials Group, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India

    S. Ningshen

  4. Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India

    Radhakrishna G. Pillai

  5. Surface Modification and Characterization Section, Corrosion Science and Technology Division, Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research, Kalpakkam, India

    Rani P. George

  6. Department of Analytical Chemistry, University of Madras, Chennai, India

    T. M. Sridhar

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Harinath, Y.V., Mohan, T.V.K., Rangarajan, S., Albert, S.K. (2022). Structural Materials for Molten Salt Reactors. In: Kamachi Mudali, U., Subba Rao, T., Ningshen, S., G. Pillai, R., P. George, R., Sridhar, T.M. (eds) A Treatise on Corrosion Science, Engineering and Technology. Indian Institute of Metals Series. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-9302-1_10

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