Species transport analysis of noble metal fission product transport, deposition, and extraction in the molten salt reactor experiment

This work provides a general overview of the detailed reports of noble metal fission product behavior during the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) and applies a species mass transport analysis to replicate and explain the basic behavior of these fission products in molten salt systems. Specifically, the operational difference between the MSRE experimental runs which used ²³⁵U and ²³³U as the enriched fuel is described and analyzed in light of the different transport behavior of noble metals during these two very different sets of operational runs. The generation of a circulating helium bubble swarm during the MSRE is also analyzed and a helium bubble model is coupled with the noble metal mass transport analysis. This coupled model provides specific insight in how noble metal deposition on the helium bubble swarm affected the reactor behavior and the results are discussed in relation to the general findings of the MSRE.