Salt wall in a molten salt reactor

Abstract

Some embodiments include a method comprising: flowing a molten salt out of a molten salt reactor at a first temperature, heating the molten salt reactor to a second temperature above the melding point of the second salt mixture causing the second salt mixture to melt; flowing the second salt mixture out of the molten salt reactor; flowing a third salt mixture into the molten salt reactor; and cooling the molten salt reactor from the second temperature to a third temperature causing the third salt mixture to solidify on the interior surface of the housing. In some embodiments, the molten salt may include a first salt mixture comprising at least uranium. In some embodiments, the first temperature is a temperature above the melting point of the first salt mixture.

That which is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 flowing a molten salt out of a molten salt reactor at a first temperature, the molten salt comprising a first salt mixture comprising at least uranium, the first temperature being a temperature above the melting point of the first salt mixture, the molten salt reactor comprising a housing with a salt wall coating an interior surface of the housing, the salt wall comprising a second salt mixture, and the second salt mixture being solid at the first temperature;   heating the molten salt reactor to a second temperature above the melting point of the second salt mixture causing the second salt mixture to melt;   flowing the second salt mixture out of the molten salt reactor;   flowing a third salt mixture into the molten salt reactor; and   cooling the molten salt reactor from the second temperature to the third temperature causing the third salt mixture to solidify on the interior surface of the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the third salt mixture comprises an uncontaminated version of the second salt. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the third salt mixture comprises the same salts as the second salt mixture with a correct eutectic ratio 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the third salt mixture comprises the same salts as the second salt mixture with fewer impurities. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising cleaning the interior surface of the housing prior to flowing the third salt mixture into the molten salt reactor. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising flowing a molten salt into the molten salt reactor after cooling the molten salt reactor from the second temperature to the first temperature causing the third salt mixture to solidify on the interior surface of the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second salt mixture comprises an actinide and the third salt mixture does not include substantial amounts of actinides. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature is at least 50° C. greater than the first temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein cooling the molten salt reactor from the second temperature to the first temperature causing the third salt mixture to solidify on the interior surface of the housing continues until the third salt mixture has solidified to a thickness of about  1  centimeter on the interior surface of the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first salt mixture, the second salt mixture, or the third salt mixture comprises one or more salts selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, aluminum fluoride, zirconium fluoride, lithium fluoride, beryllium fluoride, rubidium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and calcium fluoride. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first salt mixture, the second salt mixture, or the third salt mixture comprises at least one salt selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, and potassium chloride. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of the first salt mixture, the second salt mixture, or the third salt mixture comprises a salt mixture comprising at least one salt selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and potassium fluoride. 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 flowing a molten salt out of a molten salt reactor at a first temperature, the molten salt comprises a mixture including uranium and one or more salts selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, aluminum fluoride, zirconium fluoride, lithium fluoride, beryllium fluoride, rubidium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and calcium fluoride;   heating the molten salt reactor to a second temperature above the melting point of a second salt mixture disposed as a salt wall on a surface of the molten salt reactor causing the second salt mixture to melt;   flowing the second salt mixture out of the molten salt reactor;   flowing a third salt mixture into the molten salt reactor; and   cooling the molten salt reactor from the second temperature to the third temperature causing the third salt mixture to solidify on the interior surface of the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the salt wall comprises a second salt mixture that is solid at the first temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first temperature is a temperature above the melting point of the first salt mixture. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the third salt mixture does not include uranium. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 13 , further comprising flowing a molten salt into the molten salt reactor after cooling the molten salt reactor from the second temperature to the first temperature causing the third salt mixture to solidify on the interior surface of the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein one or more of the first salt mixture, the second salt mixture, or the third salt mixture comprises one or more salts selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, aluminum fluoride, zirconium fluoride, lithium fluoride, beryllium fluoride, rubidium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and calcium fluoride. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein one or more of the first salt mixture, the second salt mixture, or the third salt mixture comprises at least one salt selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, magnesium chloride, and potassium chloride. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein one or more of the first salt mixture, the second salt mixture, or the third salt mixture comprises a salt mixture comprising at least one salt selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and potassium fluoride. 
     
     
         21 . A method comprising:
 flowing a molten salt out of a molten salt reactor at a first temperature;   heating the molten salt reactor to a second temperature above the melting point of a second salt mixture disposed as a salt wall on a surface of the molten salt reactor causing the second salt mixture to melt, the second salt mixture comprises one or more actinides;   flowing the second salt mixture out of the molten salt reactor, the second salt mixture comprising uranium;   flowing a third salt mixture into the molten salt reactor, the third salt mixture does not include a substantantial amount of actnides; and   cooling the molten salt reactor from the second temperature to the third temperature causing the third salt mixture to solidify on the interior surface of the housing.   
     
     
         22 . A molten salt reactor comprising:
 a molten salt chamber comprising:
 a housing comprising an interior surface; and 
 a salt wall coating the interior surface of the housing, the salt wall comprising a salt having a first melting point which is greater than about 650° C.; and 
   a molten salt disposed within the molten salt chamber, the molten salt comprising a salt mixture comprising at least uranium fluoride, the molten salt having a second melting point which is less than about 650° C.   
     
     
         23 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall has a thickness less than about  3  inches. 
     
     
         24 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall comprises a salt having the same constituents as the molten salt with different molar ratios. 
     
     
         25 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the first a melting point greater than 850° C. and the molten salt comprises a salt having a melting point less than about 750° C. 
     
     
         26 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the first melting point is greater than about 750° C. 
     
     
         27 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the second melting point is less than about 550° C. 
     
     
         28 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the molten salt comprises a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, aluminum fluoride, zirconium fluoride, lithium fluoride, beryllium fluoride, rubidium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and calcium fluoride. 
     
     
         29 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall comprises additional elements and/or impurities that can be detected in the molten salt as an indicator that the salt wall is deteriorating, thinning, and/or melting. 
     
     
         30 . A molten salt reactor comprising:
 a molten salt chamber comprising:
 a housing comprising an interior surface; and 
 a salt wall coating the interior surface of the housing, the salt wall comprising a salt selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, aluminum fluoride, zirconium fluoride, lithium fluoride, beryllium fluoride, rubidium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and calcium fluoride; and 
   a molten salt disposed within the molten salt chamber, the molten salt comprising a salt mixture comprising at least uranium.   
     
     
         31 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall has a thickness less than about 3 inches. 
     
     
         32 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall comprises a salt having the same constituents as the molten salt with different molar ratios. 
     
     
         33 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall comprises a salt having a melting point greater than 850° C. and the molten salt comprises a salt having a melting point less than about 750° C. 
     
     
         34 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall comprises a salt having a melting point greater than 750° C. and the molten salt comprises a salt having a melting point less than about 650° C. 
     
     
         35 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall comprises a salt having a melting point greater than 650° C. and the molten salt comprises a salt having a melting point less than about 550° C. 
     
     
         36 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall comprises a salt having a first melting point and the molten salt comprises a salt having a second melting point, wherein the second melting point is 100° C. less than the first melting point. 
     
     
         37 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall comprises a salt having a first melting point and the molten salt comprises a salt having a second melting point, wherein the second melting point is 50° C. less than the first melting point. 
     
     
         38 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 30 , wherein the salt wall comprises additional elements and/or impurities that can be detected in the molten salt as an indicator that the salt wall is deteriorating, thinning, and/or melting. 
     
     
         39 . A molten salt reactor comprising:
 a molten salt chamber comprising:
 a housing comprising an interior surface; and 
 a salt wall coating the interior surface of the housing, the salt wall comprising a first salt mixture having a first melting point and selected from the group consisting of sodium fluoride, potassium fluoride, aluminum fluoride, zirconium fluoride, lithium fluoride, beryllium fluoride, rubidium fluoride, magnesium fluoride, and calcium fluoride; and 
   a molten salt disposed within the molten salt chamber, the molten salt comprising a second salt mixture comprising at least uranium and the first salt mixture with different molar ratios, and the molten salt having a second melting point which is more than 50° C. greater than the first melting point.   
     
     
         40 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 39 , wherein the salt wall comprises a salt having a melting point greater than 750° C. and the molten salt comprises a salt having a melting point less than about 650° C. 
     
     
         41 . The molten salt reactor according to  claim 39 , wherein the salt wall has a thickness less than about 3 inches.