nuclear power systems. Credit: Generated by DaVinci2 model on Deep Dream Generator by Nicolas Posunko/Skoltech PR” width=”800″ height=”450″/>
Revolutionizing Nuclear Power with Advanced AI Models
A collaborative research effort between Skoltech and the Institute of High Temperature Electrochemistry at UB RAS has led to groundbreaking advancements in predicting molten salt properties through machine learning techniques. These versatile compounds, already integral to various metallurgical processes, offer significant potential for addressing critical issues related to nuclear waste disposal.
Challenges in Measuring Key Properties
The distinctive characteristics of molten salts are notoriously difficult to evaluate experimentally. The innovative model introduced by the researchers, published in the Journal of Molecular Liquids, is essential for reducing manufacturing costs for pure metals while simultaneously enhancing safety and sustainability within nuclear energy production.
With a broad spectrum of physical attributes applicable across industries, materials scientists are actively engaged in optimizing the makeup of molten salt mixtures. This optimization aims not only to increase efficiencies when producing metals such as titanium, calcium, and aluminum but also to eliminate a pivotal technological barrier obstructing progress toward advanced nuclear reactor designs.
Nuclear Power: A Critical Component in Sustainable Energy Transition
As global emphasis intensifies on renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, conventional nuclear energy remains vital for achieving carbon neutrality. Although fusion reactors generate great excitement yet remain largely theoretical, there exists a more immediate alternative involving optimized molten salt technologies that could significantly impact energy generation.
Molten-salt reactors (MSRs) stand out due to their heightened safety features compared to traditional models currently operational globally. Unlike existing reactors that operate at high pressures ranging from 75 to 150 atmospheres—creating risks such as hydrogen explosions seen during incidents like Fukushima—MSRs function at or near atmospheric pressure while producing greater amounts of energy.
The Advantages of Molten-Salt Reactors
A significant advantage MSRs possess over conventional systems is their ability to undergo refueling operations during active performance without necessitating shutdowns—a game-changing feature that Streamlines operation efficiency further since they operate at temperatures nearly double those found in traditional reactors. This elevated thermal condition maximizes power output while also enhancing waste heat capture capabilities.
Moreover, MSRs have the potential to mitigate challenges linked with increasing quantities of radioactive waste produced by conventional systems. They uniquely handle highly radioactive minor actinides—such as neptunium-237 and americium-241—that would be unsuitable for disposal but may serve effectively as fuel sources within an MSR framework.
Harnessing Computational Approaches for Future Development
The quest entails gaining deeper insights into optimal properties for these crucial salts; however, materials scientists confront obstacles stemming from an overwhelming array of chemical combinations alongside numerous relevant physical characteristics necessary for technological application development. Engaging every combination experimentally would be prohibitively costly given both corrosive nature and elevated temperatures associated with these salts.
“Utilizing computational methods tailored toward identifying melts with specific physico-chemical features can considerably simplify the path forward towards developing advanced reactor technologies,” notes Nikita Rybin—the lead author from Skoltech’s Laboratory focusing on Artificial Intelligence-driven Materials Design initiatives.
Pioneering Methodologies Lead Innovation Efforts
“Our research outlined a new technique aimed at calculating thermophysical traits inherent within molten salts under varying temperature conditions,” adds Rybin regarding their examination centered around FLiNaK (a mixture containing lithium fluoride (LiF), sodium fluoride (NaF), and potassium fluoride (KF)). Notably aligned outcomes were observed compared against existing experimental results prompting further exploration into diverse secondary salt formulations along additional property ranges.”
This innovative approach relies upon machine-learned interatomic potentials trained using outputs derived from small-scale models developed under quantum mechanical standards—a methodical shift pivotal; without machine learning algorithms guiding this process efforts would become computationally taxing before essential physical traits manifest themselves accurately within larger-scale modeling endeavors attributed primarily towards new sector regeneration methodologies influenced decisively through this principled analytical lens identified throughout our ongoing studies.”
Citation:
Predictive AI facilitates understanding key properties required en route towards sustainable modern Nuclear Reactor implementation.
Retrieved January 15th 2025 from https://techxplore.com/news/2025-01-ai-properties-molten-salts-safer.html
The post Revolutionizing Nuclear Power: How AI is Unveiling the Secrets of Molten Salts for Safer and Greener Reactors first appeared on Tech News.
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Author : Tech-News Team
Publish date : 2025-01-15 21:47:15
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