TMSR (SINAP CAS)

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TMSR
TMSR (SINAP CAS) logo.svg
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TMSR site (trefoil) in Gansu province (red), and Shanghai campus.
CountryChina
Key peopleXu Hongjie
Launched2011;15 years ago (2011)
Status: Active

TMSR (from Thorium Molten Salt Reactor) is a long-term research and development project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), begun in 2011 and assigned to its Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics (SINAP), to design, test, and build nuclear reactors that incorporate molten salt as a fuel-carrier and/or coolant, and thorium as a fertile material. The TMSR facilities grew from the collaborative efforts of "nearly 100 domestic research institutions, universities and industrial companies", and are now "the world's only research platform dedicated to molten salt reactors and thorium-uranium fuel cycle studies". [1]

Contents

Background

"Project 728" was launched in 1970 to develop nuclear power in China to mitigate an energy crisis caused by industrial fossil fuel demand exceeding domestic supply. Its initial goal was to build a 25 MWe power plant based on the Molten-Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the US; a demonstration molten salt reactor (MSR) was built that achieved criticality in 1971, but was not intended to produce power. Further progress was hampered by the technological, industrial, and economic conditions in 1970s China however, and a pragmatic decision was made to develop pressurized light water reactors (PWRs) instead; their first commercial reactor, CNP-300 at Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, began operations in 1991. [2] [3] [4] The interest in MSR technology and Thorium breeding did not disappear however. China's nuclear power production relies heavily on imported uranium, [5] a strategic vulnerability in the event of e.g. economic sanctions. Additionally, the relative lack of water available for cooling PWRs west of the Hu line is a limiting factor for siting them there (cf. Map of Chinese nuclear power plants).

Project begins

In January 2011, CAS began the TMSR research and development project to create reactors which, among other advances, would use air cooling. [6] [7] Its budget was reportedly ¥3 billion ($444 million US). [8] and was led by Xu Hongjie ( 徐洪杰), who previously headed the construction of the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, [9] [10] through SINAP, which established MSR research facilities in Shanghai's Jiading District. [11]

SF0

The initial project completed there was the TMSR-SF0, an electrically-heated (non-fissioning) simulator to aid development of a proposed "SF" (solid fuel, planned as TRISO, [12] with molten salt only for cooling) branch of TMSR, as well as to gain operational experience using molten salt more generally. The SF0 has two liquid FLiNaK heat transport loops. [13]

LF1

Gansu TMSR site timelapse (2018-2025) from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery; LF1 building near top.

TMSR-LF1 (Chinese :液态燃料钍基熔盐实验堆lit.: "liquid fuel thorium-based molten salt experimental reactor") is a 2 MW t MSR prototype operating in northwest China. [14] [15] [4] [16] The "LF" (liquid fuel) design is directly based on the 1960s MSRE. [17] The site selected for the TMSR-LF1 is part of an industrial park [18] for the chemical and energy sectors, in a sparsely populated, arid region (see #Location_Notes). Site construction began in 2018. [8] Criticality was first achieved on 11 October 2023. [19] [20] [21] On 17 June 2024, full power (2MWt) operation was achieved. [21] Following the introduction of thorium into the reactor in late 2024, Protactinium-233 was detected, indicating successful nuclear breeding. [21] [22] [23]

SINAP deputy director Cai Xiangzhou emphasized China's ability to produce the technology without the involvement of foreign entities, stating that "Over 90 percent of the [LF1's] reactor's components are domestically produced, with 100 percent localization of key parts and a fully independent supply chain. This achievement marks the initial establishment of an industrial ecosystem for thorium molten salt reactor technologies in China". [24] SINAP's director, Dai Zhimin, stated that SINAP will work with energy companies, including the State Power Investment Corporation, "to build a comprehensive industrial and supply chain ecosystem for the thorium molten salt reactors." [24]

LF2

A pilot plant based on the LF1, as well as a fuel salt research facility, is planned for the same site. New reactor specifications include: core graphite 3 m tall x 2.2 m wide, 700 °C operating temperature, 60 MW thermal output, and an experimental supercritical carbon dioxide-based closed-cycle gas turbine to convert the thermal output to 10 MW of electricity. [25] Construction was slated to start in 2025, and be completed by 2029. The reactor's output would be used to demonstrate hydrogen production by high-temperature water splitting [26] ("purple hydrogen" [27] ). A report compiled by the Chinese credit rating agency CSCI Pengyuan confirmed that site construction for the 60 MWt reactor (listed as "TMSR-LF2") began in September 2025, and is expected to last 48 months. [28] Criticality, and full power operation, are expected in 2030. [29]

Future plans

Following the completion of the 10 MW project, construction of a commercial small modular reactor (SMR) of at least 100 MWe is scheduled to begin in 2030. [19] A proposal, referring to it as the smTMSR-400, specifies 400 MWt to generate 168 MWe. [30] Such reactors are likely to be sited in central and western China, and may also be built outside China in Belt and Road Initiative nations; as low-carbon power plants, they would help to achieve the Chinese government's 2060 goal of carbon neutrality. [31]

In 2023, Jiangnan Shipyard released a conceptual design for a container ship using a TMSR-based reactor, designated KUN-24AP. [32] Jiangnan Shipyard Group Vice President Lin Qingshan stated in 2025 that it was planning to invest in shipyards for vessels employing nuclear marine propulsion, beginning with the aforementioned container ship. The ship's construction would begin as early as 2035, and feature a 200 MW reactor, cargo capacity of 25 thousand intermodal containers, and 40 year lifespan. [33] Hu Keyi, a senior engineer at Jiangnan, stated that the reactor would power the vessel electrically, generating approximately 50 MWe. A 10 MW backup diesel generator would also be included in the design. The TMSR unit would be "built as a sealed modular unit with a 10-year lifespan. Instead of refuelling it, the whole unit will be replaced after a decade, reducing the risk of leaks or human errors during maintenance." [34]

Future concepts

Thorium concentrations on the Moon, as mapped by Lunar Prospector. Lunar Thorium concentrations.jpg
Thorium concentrations on the Moon, as mapped by Lunar Prospector.

The 2025 CSCI Pengyuan report [28] additionally listed two further potential applications for TMSR technology: a bulk (thousands of kg per year) tritium source for ITER-scale nuclear fusion projects, and "Deep Space and Planetary Surface Energy": 1 MWe nuclear power in space that also generates process heat above 700 C. For a mission to the Moon, the salt used would be made there from lunar regolith; harvested lunar water would be split using the sulfur–iodine cycle, generating hydrogen and oxygen to be used as rocket propellant for a return trip.

References

  1. ↑ Wu Wanzhen, and Li Menghan (1 November 2025). "China achieves 1st thorium-to-uranium fuel conversion in molten salt reactor". China Daily . Part 4. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  2. ↑ "Brief Introduction [to SINAP, in English]". SINAP. Retrieved 19 April 2025.
  3. ↑ "50年前的今天，根据周总理批示，这项工程启动，代号728". Chinese Nuclear Society. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2025. 最开始，也曾选择钍基熔盐堆作为发展民用核能的起步点，上海728 工程于1971年建成了零功率冷态熔盐堆并达到临界。但限于当时的科技、工业和经济水平，728工程转为建设轻水压水堆。
  4. 1 2 Liu, Yafen; Yan, Rui; Zou, Yang; Yu, Shihe; Zhou, Bo; Kang, Xuzhong; Hu, Jifeng; Cai, Xiangzhou (2020). "Sensitivity/Uncertainty comparison and similarity analysis between TMSR-LF1 and MSR models". Progress in Nuclear Energy. 122 103289. doi:10.1016/j.pnucene.2020.103289.
  5. ↑ Wu Wanzhen, and Li Menghan (1 November 2025). "China achieves 1st thorium-to-uranium fuel conversion in molten salt reactor". China Daily . Part 2. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  6. ↑ Dai Zhimin, Zou Yang, and Chen Kun (4 November 2016). "Thorium Molten Salt Reactors (TMSR) Development in China" (PDF). International Atomic Energy Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 July 2018. Retrieved 7 July 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Wu Wanzhen, and Li Menghan (1 November 2025). "China achieves 1st thorium-to-uranium fuel conversion in molten salt reactor". China Daily . Part 3. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  8. 1 2 "Chinese molten-salt reactor cleared for start up". World Nuclear News. World Nuclear Association. 9 August 2022. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  9. ↑ "徐洪杰：钍基熔盐堆核能系统（TMSR）现状与展望". 27 September 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  10. ↑ "讣告 深切缅怀徐洪杰老所长" [Obituary: Deeply Remembering Director Xu Hongjie]. SINAP (in Chinese). 15 September 2025. Retrieved 15 September 2025. [[Xu Hongjie] passed away in Shanghai at 8:15 AM on September 14, 2025 due to illness at the age of 70.]
  11. ↑ "中国科学院上海应用物理研究所财务与资产处岗位招聘启事". Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 19 September 2022. 中国科学院上海应用物理研究所是国立综合性核科学技术研究机构，以钍基熔盐堆核能系统、高效能源存储与转换等先进能源科学技术为主要研究方向，同时兼顾核技术在环境、健康、材料领域的若干前沿应用研究，致力于熔盐堆、钍铀燃料循环、核能综合利用等领域的关键技术研发。研究所总体发展目标是用15年左右时间，以提高核能安全性、核燃料长期供应及放射性废物最小化为目标，在国际上率先实现钍基熔盐堆核能系统（TMSR）的系统验证和工业应用。研究所拥有两大园区，其中液态熔盐实验堆的研究与设计总部坐落在上海市科技卫星城嘉定区，实验堆坐落在甘肃省武威市民勤县，两园区分别占地面积共约400和1000亩。
  12. ↑ "Fuel strategy for 2 MW SF-TMSR". IAEA. 2013. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  13. ↑ Wang, Jiajun; Dai, Ye; Zou, Yang; Xu, Hongjie (2024). "Uncertainty analysis of heat transfer of TMSR-SF0 simulator". Nuclear Engineering and Technology. 56 (2): 762–769. doi:10.1016/j.net.2023.11.016.
  14. ↑ http://finance.eastmoney.com/news/1350,20180329850624284.html Archived 8 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine 实验平台及配套项目拟选址于武威市民勤县红砂岗工业集聚区，南侧紧邻纬七路、东侧紧邻东环路。
  15. ↑ Tennenbaum, Jonathan (4 February 2020). "Molten salt and traveling wave nuclear reactors". Asia Times. Retrieved 30 September 2020.
  16. ↑ "The off-line installation and start-up of the thorium-based molten salt experimental reactor body and the first cooling salt discharge". SINAP (in Chinese (China)). 23 December 2020. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  17. ↑ Richard Martin (2 August 2016). "Fail-Safe Nuclear Power". MIT Technology Review . Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  18. ↑ "民勤红沙岗工业园区". Website of Wuwei, Gansu. 15 April 2021. Retrieved 23 August 2022. 民勤红沙岗工业园区位于民勤县红砂岗镇 ["Minqin Hongshagang Industrial Park is located in Hongshagang Town, Minqin County"...] 低碳新能源产业区：位于规划区东部，以第四代反应堆核能系统—钍基熔盐堆核能系统（TMSR）项目为基础，拓展高温制氢、布雷顿循环发电和二氧化碳资源利用，建成模块化钍基熔盐示范堆、大规模低碳新能源示范系统等，形成以模块化钍基熔盐堆为核心的低碳高效复合能源系统研发、示范与产业化基地。["Low-carbon new energy industrial zone: located in the east of the planning area, based on the fourth-generation reactor nuclear energy system-thorium-based molten salt reactor nuclear energy system (TMSR) project, to expand high-temperature hydrogen production, Brayton cycle power generation and carbon dioxide resource utilization, and build modules. A thorium-based molten salt demonstration reactor, a large-scale low-carbon new energy demonstration system, etc., have formed a low-carbon and high-efficiency composite energy system R&D, demonstration and industrialization base with a modular thorium-based molten salt reactor as the core."]
  19. 1 2 Chen, Stephen (26 July 2024). "China sets launch date for world's first thorium molten salt nuclear power station". South China Morning Post . Retrieved 29 July 2024. [TMSR-LF1] achieved criticality, or sustainable, chain nuclear reaction in October.
  20. ↑ "2023 Annual Report on Nuclear Safety" (PDF). National Nuclear Safety Administration (China). Retrieved 2 March 2025. The 2023 NNSA annual report states that TMSR-LF1 was "in operation", had "achieved its first criticality at 11:08 AM on October 11", and SINAP had reactor operator licenses for 15 people, of whom 8 were classified as "senior operators".
  21. 1 2 3 Krepel, Jiri (22 January 2025). "Overview and Update of MSR Activities within GIF". Generation IV International Forum . Retrieved 27 February 2025. At 11:08 on October 11, 2023, TMSR-LF1 achieved first criticality. At 12:10 on June 17, 2024, 2MWt full power operation was achieved. On October 8, 2024, TMSR-LF1 operated at full power for 10 days with thorium fuel, and Pa-233 was detected
  22. ↑ Wu Wanzhen, and Li Menghan (1 November 2025). "China achieves 1st thorium-to-uranium fuel conversion in molten salt reactor". China Daily . Part 1. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  23. ↑ "Chinese molten salt reactor achieves conversion of thorium-uranium fuel". World Nuclear Association. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  24. 1 2 Wu Wanzhen, and Li Menghan (1 November 2025). "China achieves 1st thorium-to-uranium fuel conversion in molten salt reactor". China Daily . Part 5. Retrieved 6 November 2025.
  25. ↑ "小型模块化钍基熔盐堆研究设施项目环境影响报告书（选址阶段）[Small Modular Thorium Molten Salt Reactor Research Facility Project Environmental Impact Report (site selection stage)]" (PDF). SINAP. August 2022. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  26. ↑ "The 20kW module/200kW high-temperature solid oxide electrolysis cell hydrogen production device has been selected into the first set of major technological equipment in the national energy field". SINAP. December 2024. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  27. ↑ De Blasio, Nicola (8 July 2024). "The Colors of Hydrogen". Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs . Retrieved 11 October 2025.
  28. 1 2 "钍基熔盐堆第四代核技术改写全球核能格局" [Thorium-based Molten Salt Reactor Fourth Generation Nuclear Technology Reshapes the Global Nuclear Energy Landscape](PDF). CSCI Pengyuan (in Chinese). 16 September 2025. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  29. ↑ Yang Yang (14 April 2025). "中国引领四代核能革命：钍基熔盐堆，比聚变更有希望的终极能源？" [China Leads the Fourth Generation Nuclear Energy Revolution: Thorium-Based Molten Salt Reactors – A More Promising Ultimate Energy Source Than Fusion?]. The Paper (newspaper) (in Chinese). Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  30. ↑ "Conceptual Design of 400MWt small Modular Thorium Molten Salt Demonstration Reactor (smTMSR-400)". International Atomic Energy Agency. 2022. Retrieved 27 April 2025.
  31. ↑ Stephen Chen (19 July 2021). "Could China's molten salt nuclear reactor be a clean, safe source of power?". South China Morning Post . Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  32. ↑ Stephen Chen (5 December 2023). "Chinese shipyard unveils plans for world's first nuclear container powered by cutting-edge molten salt reactor". South China Morning Post . Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  33. ↑ Daniel Ren (8 December 2025). "Jiangnan Shipyard to build world's first thorium-powered container vessel by 2035". South China Morning Post . Retrieved 19 December 2025.
  34. ↑ "China Reveals Critical Specifications For World's Largest Nuclear-Powered Cargo Ship". Marine Insight. 7 November 2025. Retrieved 25 December 2025.

Location Notes

The most recently published official Gansu site plan map is Figure 2.1-2 in

The LF1 reactor is sited within an industrial park located in Hongshagang (town), Minqin (county), Wuwei (prefecture), Gansu (province), China. The area is a semi-desert just south of the Badain Jaran section of the Gobi. As per official documentation, the TMSR-LF1 site is located at 38°57'31" N, 102°36'55" E. However, due to the China GPS shift problem, the reactor location using Western GPS coordinates is approximately 38°57'36.7" N, 102°36'43.7" E (about a third of a kilometer offset).

The 10MWe reactor building is planned for approximately 38°57′33″N102°36′36″E / 38.9593°N 102.6101°E / 38.9593; 102.6101 (Western coordinates).

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