FUTURE NUCLEAR REACTOR

Molten Salt Reactor:

A molten salt reactor (MSR) is a class of nuclear fission reactor in which the primary nuclear reactor coolant and the fuel is a molten salt mixture. MSR's are considered safer than conventional reactors because they operate with fuel already in a molten state and in event of an emergency the fuel mixture is designed to drain from the core where it will solidify, preventing the type of nuclear meltdown and associated hydrogen explosions ( like what happened in the Fukushima nuclear disaster bracket ) that are at risk in conventional reactors. They operate at or close to atmospheric pressure, rather than the 75 to 150 times atmospheric pressure of a typical light water reactor (LWR), hence reducing the need for a large expensive reactor pressure vessels used in light water reactors. A further key characteristic of MSRs is operating temperatures of around 700 °C (1,292 °F), significantly higher than traditional LWRs at around 300 °C (572 °F), providing greater electricity-generation efficiency. 

Magnetic Confinement Fusion:

Magnetic confinement fusion is an approach to generate thermonuclear fusion power that uses magnetic fields to confine fusion fuel in the form of a plasma. Magnetic confinement is one of two major branches of fusion energy research along with inertial confinement fusion. Fusion reactions combine light atomic nuclei such as hydrogen to form heavier ones such as helium producing energy. In order to overcome the electrostatic repulsion between the nuclei, they must have a temperature of tens of millions of degrees creating a plasma in addition, the plasma must be contained at a sufficient density for a sufficient time, as specified by the Lawson criterion ( triple product )

Inertial Confinement Fusion:

               

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) is a fusion energy research program that initiates nuclear fusion reactions by compressing and heating targets filled with thermonuclear fuel. These are pellets typically containing a mixture of deuterium 2H and tritium 3H. In current experimental reactors, fuel pellets are about the size of a pinhead and contain around 10 milligrams of fuel. Bigger power reactors are envisaged for the future as affordable, safe, clean, carbon-free energy sources of limitless scale that burn deuterium, which is plentiful in the oceans. To compress and heat the fuel, energy is deposited in the outer layer of the target using high-energy beams of photons, electrons or ions, although almost all ICF devices as of 2020 used lasers. The largest operational ICF experiment is the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the US. In 2021, an experiment reached 70% efficiency.

                                                 

Small Modular Reactor:

Small modular reactors (SMRs) are nuclear fission reactors that are smaller than conventional nuclear reactors and typically have an electrical power output of less than 300 MWe or a thermal power output of less than 1000 MWth. They are designed to be manufactured at a plant and transported to a site to be installed. Modular reactors will reduce on-site construction and increase containment efficiency and are claimed to enhance safety. The greater safety should come via the use of passive safety features that operate without human intervention, a concept already implemented in some conventional nuclear reactor types. SMRs also reduce staffing versus conventional nuclear reactors. SMRs are claimed to cross financial and safety barriers that inhibit the construction of conventional reactors.

Reference:-

Wikipedia and online sources

SUBMITTED BY:-

First M.Sc. Physics Students: Chaithashree K, Deeksha H, Harshitha K, Krithi A

St. Philomena College, Centre for PG Studies and Research, Puttur