LOW POWER, FAST SPECTRUM MOLTEN FUEL REACTOR

Designs for a low power, fast spectrum molten fuel nuclear reactor that can be used to advance the understanding of molten salt reactors, their design and their operation are described. Furthermore, the designs described may be adapted to extra-terrestrial use as described herein for use as a low-gravity, moon-, Mars-, or space-based power generator. These low power reactors include a reactor core volume defined by a radial neutron reflector enclosed in a reactor vessel, in which heated fuel salt flows from the reactor core through a duct between the radial neutron reflector and the reactor vessel and back into the reactor core. Heat generated from the fission in the reactor core is transferred from the molten fuel through the reactor vessel to a coolant, in the case of an experimental design, or directly to an extra-terrestrial environment, in the case of an extra-terrestrial design.