Thermodynamic Analysis and Optimization of Molten Salt Reactors Coupled With Desalination Solutions

In recent years, Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology has received significant attention. Its low pressure makes the MSR a low-risk option which, when coupled with its high temperature, makes it a highly beneficial choice for power generation and suggests the ease of integration with other systems such as desalination. It is worthwhile with the growing interest in MSRs, to develop a simulation tool that can predict performance in a multi-faceted MSR-based flow loop. This study focuses on MSR applications, namely clean water production utilizing a specific optimized combination of FLiNaK and supercritical carbon dioxide (SCO₂) cycles. It addresses the growing worldwide need to decarbonize our energy production and simultaneously provide clean water. The results of optimized MSR-desalination configurations exhibit promising implications for the production of abundant amounts of clean water while also maintaining ample power supply to the electrical grid. They show that a design for a coupled MSR and desalination plant are not only possible but that the components and design are scalable for 50–250 MW_th power input.