TMSR-LF1

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
For other uses of the acronym, see TMSR.

TMSR-LF1
TMSR site: the tallest building within the security perimeter houses the LF1 reactor
GenerationIV
Reactor conceptMSR
StatusActive
LocationChina
Maps
TMSR-LF1 is located in China
TMSR-LF1
TMSR-LF1
class=notpageimage|
TMSR-LF1 (trefoil) in Gansu province (red). Shanghai campus also indicated.
TMSR-LF1 (trefoil) within Minqin county (orange) is roughly 120 km (75 miles) north of the city of Wuwei (star)[1]
Coordinates38°57′37″N 102°36′44″E / 38.9602°N 102.6122°E / 38.9602; 102.6122
Main parameters of the reactor core
Fuel (
Prototyping
Power (thermal)2 MW
Criticality (date)11 Oct 2023
Operator/ownerSINAP
Websitehttp://english.sinap.cas.cn/about_sinap/brief_introduction/

TMSR-LF1 (液态燃料钍基熔盐实验堆; "liquid fuel

molten salt reactor (MSR) pilot plant operating in northwest China.[2][3][4][5][location note]

History

TMSR project logo
Hu line (shaded yellow) is seen as a limiting factor for them; cf. Map of Chinese nuclear power plants

In January 2011, the

Jiading District.[9] The initial project completed there was the TMSR-SF0, an electrically-heated (non-fissioning) simulator to aid development of a proposed "SF" (solid fuel, using a molten salt only for cooling) branch of TMSR, as well as to gain operational experience using molten salt more generally. The SF0 has two liquid FLiNaK heat transport loops.[10]

The liquid fuel ("LF") design is based on the 1960s

atheist state), CAS disciplined staff members, and issued a public apology.[13] A reactor construction permit was issued by the Chinese National Nuclear Safety Administration in January 2020.[14] Construction was expected to finish in August 2021, with testing to follow.[15][16] In August 2022, the Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment informed SINAP that its commissioning plan for the LF1 had been approved.[7] A ten-year operating license was issued in June 2023.[17][18] For the first 5–8 years, it is to be run in batch mode, before converting to continuous mode.[7]

Protactinium-233 was detected, indicating successful nuclear breeding.[21]

Specifications

LF1 building floor plan published for seismic analysis

The TMSR-LF1 is a Generation IV reactor constructed with the following specifications:[22][23][24]

  • Thermal power: 2MW
  • Fuel salt:
    thorium
    • inlet temperature: 630 °C
    • outlet temperature: 650 °C
    • volume: 1.68 m3
    • flow rate: ~50 kg/s
  • Coolant salt: FLiBe
    • inlet temperature: 560 °C
    • outlet temperature: 580 °C
    • flow rate: ~42 kg/s
  • Cover gas: Argon (0.05 MPa)
    • volume: 1.6 m3
  • Moderator: nuclear graphite
  • Structural Material: UNS N10003 superalloy
  • Lifetime: 10 years
    • equivalent full power days: 300
    • maximum full power days per year: 60

The reactor is located underground, seated at the bottom of a 14m (46 foot) deep dry well, which is capped at ground level, and above which rises a 20m (66 foot) tall roofed atrium.[25]

Future plans

A

carbon neutrality.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b "小型模块化钍基熔盐堆研究设施项目环境影响报告书（选址阶段）[Small Modular Thorium Molten Salt Reactor Research Facility Project Environmental Impact Report (site selection stage)]" (PDF). SINAP. August 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  2. ^ http://finance.eastmoney.com/news/1350,20180329850624284.html Archived 8 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine 实验平台及配套项目拟选址于武威市民勤县红砂岗工业集聚区，南侧紧邻纬七路、东侧紧邻东环路。
  3. ^ Tennenbaum, Jonathan (4 February 2020). "Molten salt and traveling wave nuclear reactors". Asia Times. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  4. S2CID 213115060
    . Retrieved 5 November 2020.
  5. ^ "The off-line installation and start-up of the thorium-based molten salt experimental reactor body and the first cooling salt discharge". SINAP (in Chinese (China)). 23 December 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  6. ^ Dai Zhimin, Zou Yang, and Chen Kun (4 November 2016). "Thorium Molten Salt Reactors (TMSR) Development in China" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ a b c d "Chinese molten-salt reactor cleared for start up". World Nuclear News. World Nuclear Association. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  8. ^ "徐洪杰：钍基熔盐堆核能系统（TMSR）现状与展望". 27 September 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  9. ^ "中国科学院上海应用物理研究所财务与资产处岗位招聘启事". Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022. 中国科学院上海应用物理研究所是国立综合性核科学技术研究机构，以钍基熔盐堆核能系统、高效能源存储与转换等先进能源科学技术为主要研究方向，同时兼顾核技术在环境、健康、材料领域的若干前沿应用研究，致力于熔盐堆、钍铀燃料循环、核能综合利用等领域的关键技术研发。研究所总体发展目标是用15年左右时间，以提高核能安全性、核燃料长期供应及放射性废物最小化为目标，在国际上率先实现钍基熔盐堆核能系统（TMSR）的系统验证和工业应用。研究所拥有两大园区，其中液态熔盐实验堆的研究与设计总部坐落在上海市科技卫星城嘉定区，实验堆坐落在甘肃省武威市民勤县，两园区分别占地面积共约400和1000亩。
  10. doi:10.1016/j.net.2023.11.016. Retrieved 2 March 2025.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link
    )
  11. ^ Richard Martin (2 August 2016). "Fail-Safe Nuclear Power". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  12. ^ "民勤红沙岗工业园区". Website of Wuwei, Gansu. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2022. 民勤红沙岗工业园区位于民勤县红砂岗镇 ["Minqin Hongshagang Industrial Park is located in Hongshagang Town, Minqin County"...] 低碳新能源产业区：位于规划区东部，以第四代反应堆核能系统—钍基熔盐堆核能系统（TMSR）项目为基础，拓展高温制氢、布雷顿循环发电和二氧化碳资源利用，建成模块化钍基熔盐示范堆、大规模低碳新能源示范系统等，形成以模块化钍基熔盐堆为核心的低碳高效复合能源系统研发、示范与产业化基地。["Low-carbon new energy industrial zone: located in the east of the planning area, based on the fourth-generation reactor nuclear energy system-thorium-based molten salt reactor nuclear energy system (TMSR) project, to expand high-temperature hydrogen production, Brayton cycle power generation and carbon dioxide resource utilization, and build modules. A thorium-based molten salt demonstration reactor, a large-scale low-carbon new energy demonstration system, etc., have formed a low-carbon and high-efficiency composite energy system R&D, demonstration and industrialization base with a modular thorium-based molten salt reactor as the core."]
  13. ^ "2 nuclear scientists suspended for failing to stop Taoist ritual". China Daily. 2 May 2018. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  14. ^ "2020 Annual Report" (PDF). National Nuclear Safety Administration (China). Retrieved 2 March 2025. The 2029 NNSA annual report states that "On January 13, 2020, the Construction Permit for the 2MWt TMSR-LF was issued."
  15. ^ a b Stephen Chen (19 July 2021). "Could China's molten salt nuclear reactor be a clean, safe source of power?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  16. S2CID 237471852
    . Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  17. ^ "China's experimental molten salt reactor receives licence". Nuclear Engineering International. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  18. ^ "关于颁发2MWt液态燃料钍基熔盐实验堆运行许可证的通知". Ministry of Ecology and Environment (China). 7 June 2023. Retrieved 15 June 2023.
  19. ^ a b Chen, Stephen (26 July 2024). "China sets launch date for world's first thorium molten salt nuclear power station". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 29 July 2024. [TMSR-LF1] achieved criticality, or sustainable, chain nuclear reaction in October.
  20. ^ "2023 Annual Report on Nuclear Safety" (PDF). National Nuclear Safety Administration (China). Retrieved 2 March 2025. The 2023 NNSA annual report states that TMSR-LF1 was "in operation", had "achieved its first criticality at 11:08 AM on October 11", and SINAP had reactor operator licenses for 15 people, of whom 8 were classified as "senior operators".
  21. ^
    Generation IV International Forum
    . Retrieved 27 February 2025. At 11:08 on October 11, 2023, TMSR-LF1 achieved first criticality. At 12:10 on June 17, 2024, 2MWt full power operation was achieved. On October 8, 2024, TMSR-LF1 operated at full power for 10 days with thorium fuel, and Pa-233 was detected
  22. ^ Hongjie Xu. Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) (27 September 2018). "Progress of TMSR in China" (PDF). Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  23. ^ Yang Zou. SINAP, CAS (4–5 July 2019). "Research Progress of TMSR design" (PDF). Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  24. S2CID 145927937
    .
  25. doi:10.1155/2024/1672269.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) (Licensed CC
    BY 4.0)

Notes

Gobi. As per official documentation, the TMSR-LF1 site is located at 38°57'31" N, 102°36'55" E. However, due to the China GPS shift problem
, the reactor location using Western GPS coordinates is approximately 38°57'36.7" N, 102°36'43.7" E (about a third of a kilometer offset).