This is not actually a reactor test because the thorium-bearing salt does not attain criticality. It's a sequence of materials tests using thorium-containing salt mixtures in small crucibles inside the conventionally fueled High Flux Reactor (https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/research-facility/high-flux-reac...).
The experiments rely on neutrons from the High Flux Reactor to induce nuclear reactions in the thorium-bearing salt mixtures. However, the experiments will be useful in validating materials behavior for possible future molten salt reactors because it combines realistic thermal, chemical, and radiation stresses.
More details on the experiment sequence: https://public.ornl.gov/conferences/MSR2016/docs/Presentatio...
This is not actually a reactor test because the thorium-bearing salt does not attain criticality. It's a sequence of materials tests using thorium-containing salt mixtures in small crucibles inside the conventionally fueled High Flux Reactor (https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/research-facility/high-flux-reac...).
The experiments rely on neutrons from the High Flux Reactor to induce nuclear reactions in the thorium-bearing salt mixtures. However, the experiments will be useful in validating materials behavior for possible future molten salt reactors because it combines realistic thermal, chemical, and radiation stresses.