High-temperature properties of molten salts and their dynamical interactions with neutrons

Molten salt reactors (MSRs) are a Gen-IV international forum concept. However, with sparse experimental data, their development is contingent on modelling and simulation methodologies with which to predict the high-temperature properties of molten salts and their dynamical interactions with neutrons. Recently AD and ML developed a multi-scale method for predicting, with unprecedented accuracy, the differential neutron scattering cross-section of molten salts. The method was applied to the prototypal salt sodium chloride, and we are here seeking beam-time to validate the results, fine-tune the methodology, and enable the extension of the approach to molten-salt mixtures relevant to MSRs.

熔盐堆（Molten Salt Reactors，MSRs）是第四代国际论坛（Gen-IV）提出的反应堆概念。然而，受限于较为匮乏的实验数据，其研发高度依赖建模与仿真方法，以预测熔盐的高温特性及其与中子的动态相互作用。近期，AD与ML团队开发出一种多尺度方法，可以前所未有的精度预测熔盐的微分中子散射截面（differential neutron scattering cross-section）。该方法已在原型盐氯化钠上完成应用测试，本研究目前正申请束流时间以验证上述研究结果、优化该方法学，并将该方法推广至与熔盐堆相关的熔盐混合体系中。