PROJECT PROPOSAL

MOLTEN SALT NUCLEAR REACTOR

(LIQUID FLUORIDE THORIUM REACTOR)

INTRODUCTION TO ELECTRICAL ENGINNEERING

SKEE-1012-04

PREPARED BY:
NIK AHMAD FAISAL BIN MOHD KAMAROLZAMAN

SUPERVISOR:
DR. YUSMEERAZ YUSOF

Abstract This project focuses on the development of a new technologies on nuclear power instead of
conventional light water nuclear reactor. Race of new energy production sparks out interest among
big nation like China, Russia, France and India to pursue alternative and abundance energy sources.
The conventional nuclear reactor that use light water for coolant poses extreme danger like what
happened in Fukushima, Daichi power plants.

I.

INTRODUCTION

Race of energy sparks out interest in pursuing alternative and interesting energy source. So we
planned to pursue the topics of Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor
As we all know, current light water nuclear reactor operates at higher temperature and high
pressure, which consist a lot of problem if disaster occurs. If the fuel meltdown, then the reaction wouldnt
stop.
At 1950s Alvin Weinberg a director at Oak Bridge National Laboratory and a nuclear scientist of
US approach what is we called as Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor for military purpose but however were
stopped after the facts that current light water nuclear reactors were proven to work. In early nuclear
approach, the research was grant for military purpose. The decision of approaching light water nuclear
reactor is only optimized for Navy needs and water suits well in the ocean for them. But not in energy
production.

II.

Problem Statement

Current light water nuclear reactor that uses same technology about 50 years poses high risk because
of high pressure just what already happen to Fukushima, Daichi Nuclear Plant and Chernobyl Plant.
Current nuclear reactor need to be built nearby water sources for cooling and the size of the reactor
need to be really big. The current nuclear reactor technology utilize about 30-40% of the heat energy
whereas Molten Salt Reactor achieve about 45- 50%
III.

Objectives

i)

To propose a better solution for abundant nuclear energy.

ii)
iii)

To promote nuclear technology to the society.

To encourage participation on nuclear technology awareness

iv)

To develop new type of nuclear energy that are safer and better efficiency

IV.

(Proposed) Project Overview

Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor Plant

Low Pressure but High Temperature
Instead of using light water, we use molten salt mixture to cool down the reactor. The fuel itself could be use
molten salt mixture. It runs on higher temperature to achieve higher efficiency on thermodynamics but low
vapor pressure which means it needs very high temperature to turn into gas.
Safe Design
And in case of disaster, passive mechanism to drain the fuel itself could be use for shutdown the whole
reactor. The best part of it, when it cools down, the nuclear reaction would stops.
The cost estimates from 1970s were slightly lower than for conventional light water reactors.
So you could have better power generated on same fuel use as conventional nuclear reactor.

Liquid Salts as a fuel

Liquid Fluoride Thorium Reactor is one type of molten salt reactor, it uses liquid salts as fuel instead of the
solid Uranium. This is safe since if any incident happen the fuel can drains into a passively cooled
configuration where nuclear fission and meltdown are not possible. Molten salts such as lithium, beryllium
and thorium mixtures were perfect for reactor operation. They would melt around 400 degree celcius and
sustain fission reaction in the salt. If it happened to be spills al LFTR plant, the salt would quickly cool into
solid forming blockage if pipe leakage.

V.

Conclusions (Expected Outcome)

We hope to promote safer nuclear technology to use in our nation. To build such humongous plant
would need a lot of support from government as well large sum of money. China, India, France, Russia and
other country already starts to pursue this new technology. The technology were proven working in plant
Oak Ridge National Laboratory that run for 5 years.