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The companies NGK Corporation and Kyoto Fusioneering formalized a strategic alliance to produce and commercialize FLiBe molten salt. This compound, synthesized from lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride, constitutes a critical component for the thermal and operational functioning of future commercial nuclear power plants.
The development of FLiBe molten salt and its technological origin
In this regard, the molten salt functions simultaneously as a high-capacity thermal coolant at low pressure and as a solvent for fertile materials. Likewise, its presence in the reactor facilitates the continuous generation of tritium, an indispensable isotope for stably fueling fusion reactions.
Historically, this specialized fluid was first tested during the 1960s at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States. However, its deployment on an industrial scale required solving technical challenges associated with beryllium scarcity, material corrosion, and the need for rigorous quality controls.
Consequently, the alliance integrates the industrial expertise of NGK, a firm that has worked on the safe processing and refining of beryllium since 1958. The Nagoya-based corporation will assume operational management and safety at a new specialized plant, installed within its existing industrial facilities.
In parallel, Kyoto Fusioneering will provide its knowledge in fusion engineering, including reactor design, plasma heating, and tritium recovery. Furthermore, the Tokyo-based firm will be responsible for the engineering, procurement, and construction of the technical infrastructure.
Additionally, the quality of the material will be validated through Kyoto Fusioneering’s FREJA test loop. This system will evaluate the compound’s durability under prolonged operational activation, ensuring that the salt meets the standards required for its integration into thermal power generation plants.
Source and photo: Kyoto Fusioneering
