Why the molten salt fast reactor (MSFR) is the “best” gen IV reactor

Abstract

A simultaneously “nuclear”, permanent, and in-time solution to mankind’s energy-related problems would require the relatively rapid manufacture of 10,000–30,000 genuinely sustainable, full-sized (~1 GWe) reactors. This “nuclear renaissance” would have to be implemented with breeder reactors because today’s commercial nuclear fuel cycle is unsustainable and based upon a fuel (235U) that is intrinsically expensive and politically problematic. The purpose of this paper is to point out why a simple/cheap “minimal reprocessing” implementation of the European Union’s (EU’s) molten salt fast reactor (MSFR) concept represents the most promising way to implement that technical fix: • It would be relatively simple/cheap to both build and operate, • Its fuel cycle is genuinely sustainable (no fuel shortages “forever”), • Radwaste management would also be relatively simple and cheap, • Operation would neither generate nor require huge amounts of transuranic (TRU) elements, • The consequences of accidents (fuel spills, etc.) would be relatively benign, • When steady state is achieved, the world would no longer need its uranium enrichment facilities. Its primary drawback is that it would require virtually everyone currently involved with managing, researching, implementing, regulating, or “helping” the USA’s nuclear power industry to embrace a massive paradigm shift.