FIGES to Design New Generation Thorium-Fueled Molten Salt Nuclear Reactor with company resources
Taking a step forward in the new generation nuclear reactor research, FİGES has started the “Molten Salt Reactors Conceptual Design Development Project,” by committing its own resources. The company expects to complete the Thorium-fueled MSR design project in the medium term.
Having recently strengthened the company’s human resources in all branches of engineering, especially in the field of artificial intelligence, FİGES (abbr. Computer Simulation in Physics and Geometry) intends to increase the focus on the company’s nuclear technology studies, which was first started in 2017. The company has committed its own resources into the “Molten Salt Reactors Conceptual Design Development Project” in an attempt to take a step forward in the new generation nuclear reactor research.
Noting that various private/public enterprises, especially in the pioneering countries like EU-member states, the USA, China, and India, have already made significant investments in the Molten Salt Reactors (MSR), Dr. Tarık Öğüt, the Founder and Chairman of FİGES, said “Our goal is to develop the MSR conceptual design by using our national and domestic resources. In addition to generating electricity, the MSR technology can put Turkey’s thorium-rich resources into use and is capable of generating high-temperature heat energy and cheap hydrogen, as well as meeting the industrial and urban demand for the heat energy, and it can also generate the necessary resources to produce low-cost drinking water from sea water. We expect that the conceptual reactor design will have been achieved by the medium term.”
Expressing the company’s intention to focus on learning and developing the technology by committing its own resources in order to improve the MSR technology in Turkey, Tarık Öğüt alluded to FİGES’ participation in the EU-funded SAMOFAR project of 2019 as an active observer along with the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), in which the company successfully delivered the heat exchanger design works of the MSR-type EVOL reactor with 3 thousand MW thermal power developed by the EU organizations. Öğüt, added that his company leads the transfer of technological information by maintaining close relationships with this consortium, which includes several prominent players in the nuclear technology (CEA CNRS, Areva, and EDF of France, PSI of Switzerland, TU-Delft of the Netherlands, CIRTEN of Italy, and EU Joint Research Centre).
Cooperation for a pilot plant in the separation of rare earth elements
Mentioning the company’s studies in the separation and purification of the rare earth elements by using solvent extraction methods, Tarık Öğüt emphasized that they have provided the “rare earth elements, baryte, fluorite and thorium” separation pilot plant, which is in the foundation stage under the supervision of the Directorate General of Eti Mine Works of Turkey, with consultancy services in the licensing application process before the Nuclear Regulatory Authority.
Noting that the company’s technical support and consultancy services in the maritime and automotive industry, as well as other sectors, have been continued with the same degree of determination, Öğüt said, “Our R&D projects in all these areas were conducted with the company’s resources. In the meantime, we have provided hundreds of new-grad engineers with professional training on R&D technologies through Build-Up Academy.”
April 26, 2021 Taking a step forward in the new generation nuclear reactor research, FİGES has started the “Molten Salt Reactors Conceptual Design Development Project,” by committing its own resources. The company expects to complete the Thorium-fueled MSR design project in the medium term...
figes.com.tr