NRIC Unveils New Tool to Advance Molten Salt Fuel Research

Housed by NRIC at Idaho National Laboratory (INL), MSTEC provides specialized equipment to measure how irradiated and nonirradiated materials behave under different conditions.

Understanding the properties of fuel salts at different temperatures, and how they interact with potential reactor materials, is important for advanced molten salt reactor designs that use high-temperature chloride or fluoride salts as the fuel, coolant or both.

MSTEC offers researchers a flexible laboratory space for small-scale experiments and provides a safe environment for testing high-temperature processes, molten salts and advanced fuel compositions. Its capabilities include fuel characterization, electrochemical studies, corrosion testing and salt synthesis

"MSTEC fills a critical gap in our testing capabilities," said Brad Tomer, NRIC director. "For the first time, reactor developers will have access to a facility that can accurately measure thermophysical properties of irradiated fuel salts at the extreme temperatures and conditions advanced reactor designs require. This data is essential for future licensing and commercial deployment."