Prospects of subcritical molten salt reactor for minor actinides incineration in closed fuel cycle

Abstract A subcritical molten salt reactor is proposed for minor actinides (separated from spent fuel VVER-1000 light water reactor) incineration and for 233U conversion from 232Th. Here the subcritical molten salt reactor with fuel composition of heavy nuclide fluorides in molten LiF–NaF–KF salt and with external neutron source, based on 1 GeV proton accelerator and molten salt cooled tungsten target is considered. The paper presents the results of parametrical analysis of equilibrium nuclide composition of molten salt reactor with minor actinides feed in dependence of core dimensions, average neutron flux and external neutron source intensity. Reactor design is defined; requirements to external neutron source are posed; heavy nuclides equilibrium and fuel cycle main parameters are calculated.