— The idea of molten salt reactors and that of traditional nuclear ones appeared almost at the same time. Why molten salt reactors are yet not that widespread?

— Traditional reactors turned out more technologically simple, while their realization term – shorter. With the appearance of peaceful atom, the 60-th anniversary of which we are celebrating this year, those factors became an undoubted priority.

— Could you please describe the idea of work of a molten salt reactor?

– In molten salt of light elements’ fluorides or chlorides fuel components get dissolved. The system’s criticality is reached by increasing concentration of uranium or plutonium. Liquid fuel circulates in circuit, producing energy in heat-exchanger. Thus molten salt is at the same time fuel and coolant. If needed (and it is needed indeed) the liquid substance gets divided from fission elements and reactor constantly works on “clear” fuel without accumulating that horrible radioactive waste, which causes so much concern nowadays.

— Are there any working molten salt reactors in the world?

— Today there are none. The last and the only one was operated in the United States at the end of the sixties; for 10 thousand hours with the capacity of about 8 MW. It was in Oak Ridge. Just a short time ago the technology was bought by China. By 2018 two 1MW prototypes are planned to be built. In one case molten salt will be used only as coolant. The same approach today is being developed in Oak-Ridge.

— What is so unique about the JASMINE reactor you today are working on?

— JASMINE means molten salt, multifunctional and innovative. Unlike American sample, this reactor is fast. It’s unique because of two technologies that don’t exist yet, joined together: electronuclear and molten salt. Subcritical system blanket is controlled by outer source of neutrons, based on interaction of accelerated ions of deuterium with lithium nuclei, for instance. Today we’ve already started our design and experimental engineering studies of the whole complex; moreover, we have our high-current accelerator. The reactor will have modular structure for increased safety. The most budget option suggests creating a 20 kW device. This will be the world’s first active counterglow system with liquid fuel. The following cycle of experimental and technical works will clearly show the technology’s large-scale applicability.

— They say that this type of reactor totally excludes possibility of catastrophes like Fukushima or Chernobyl. What is the secret of safety?

— It’s the principle itself: deep subcriticality of the system excludes the chance of boost phase failures, while molten zone – not an emergency but normal mode. Besides, the possibility of fission products’ non-stop removal, in any case, reduces the risk of drastic radiation consequences.

— How powerful this type of reactor can be?

— Theoretically – any. It all depends on what the reactor is meant for. Today in the Rosatom’s Innovative Block the main idea is to use reactor for minor actinides burning, first of all americium, determining up to 90% of RAW long-term radiotoxicity. In this case thermal capacities more than 0/5-1 GW are hardly needed.

— As far as we know Americans tried to use molten salt reactors for aircraft equipment. Is there a chance that an electric power plant can work with such a reactor?

— Well, speaking about planes, it was a little too much, while electric power plant or hydrogen mass production stations are quite realistic, provided one is be able to solve some complicated technical problems. I’m talking about critical reactor, of course.

— What are the advantages of JASMINE in comparison to traditional Russian reactors (RBMK, VVER, VVER-TOI, BN)? What are the weak-points?

— The used type of fuel means easy production, operation and recycling; a wide range of isotope contents, tolerance to burnout, since you always can add necessary burning component even without stopping the reactor. On-line removal of fission products doesn’t need complicated fuel elements’ operations, it solves the problem of waste concentration is a small volume. Those are advantages. None of the named reactors can offer anything like this. The weak point is lack of construction materials, resistant to aggressive fluoride environment under high temperature irradiations. Of course, there is work on nanocoating, Hastalloy, being conducted these days, however only experience will show how to solve the problem. That’s when they’ll need our JASMINE. Another minus is how the molten salt fuel composition functions, especially in emergency situations. We still know little and little we know how to do. There’s a big work ahead. We have to unite physicists, chemists, mathematicians. Work at the intersection of disciplines is meant for young and talented ones, so we have to prepare our future personnel as early as today.

— What step the project is on today?

— It’s still too early to speak about production prototype. JASMINE will show. While development prototype is quite real to obtain by 2017-2018.

— Are there many scientists taking part in the project? Mainly young ones?

— In 2013, as part of the Innovation Block editorial calendar, a big volume of work was done. Main participants: FEI, NIIAR, VNIIHT, Radium Institute, Kurchatov Institute. There are a lot of participants, more than a hundred qualified specialists. One third of them are young people. However this is just the beginning. The interest in scientific environment is huge, especially to things like quantum chemistry of system objects.