ABSTRACT
A molten salt reactor (MSR) is a reactor in which fluorides of fissile and fertile elements such as UF4, PuF3, and/or ThF4 are combined with carrier salts to form a fluid fuel. MSRs can operate as simple burner reactors with high fuel economy or with the addition of online fission product removal and can achieve breeder status. Typical operation sees molten salt flowing between a critical core and an intermediate heat exchanger. A secondary coolant salt then transfers heat to a steam or closed gas cycle. The majority of work has involved fluoride salts, as corrosion-resistant alloys have been shown to be compatible with these salts.
