Reactor Physics Research and Development Activities at Terrestrial Energy in Support of IMSR Design Validation

Abstract

Terrestrial Energy’s (TEI’s) march to development and deployment of the Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR®) is partly predicated on the advancement of the company’s Research and Development (R&D) program. In turn, TEI’s R&D program is an ever-growing, multi-disciplinary undertaking, initiating fundamental and novel experiments. In this report, a focus is given to TEI’s reactor physics experiments, which will support IMSR core design decisions, validate predicted core and safety behaviours, and improve the understanding of high-temperature, graphite-moderated molten salt reactors as a whole.

Specifically, introductions and updates are provided for TEI’s reactor technology, approach to core neutronics modelling, and tailoring of industry-standard codes to IMSR operation features. Knowledge gaps for IMSR core design processes are discussed and subsequent experimental R&D testing targets are outlined. Information surrounding planned features and measurement scopes of a potential integral zero-power test assembly is included. Associated testing challenges inherent to irradiated molten salt research programs are discussed throughout the paper and a concluding brief look forward to future physics R&D phases at TEI is given.