The Molten Salt Thermal Properties Working Group was organized in 2020 by General Atomics Center Director Professor Ted Besmann and Dr. Jake McMurray of Kairos Power to help address communication issues stemming from rapid expansion of research on molten salts as heat transfer media and nuclear fuel. Workshops on molten salt thermal properties have been and are continuing to be organized under the ad hoc Molten Salt Thermal Properties Working Group (MSTPWG).
About the MSTPWG
The swift growth in interest in molten salts has substantially increased the technical community concerned with the various thermal properties of the materials. This has left many of those in the field unaware of the activities of others, with missed collaborative opportunities, possible duplicative efforts, and lack of awareness of useful new data. The Molten Salt Thermal Properties Working Group was therefore established to help address these issues.
The group is made up of an informal/ad hoc set of researchers working on molten salt thermochemical / thermophysical properties. Members are self-selected, only needing to provide their contact information to join. It is specifically targeted at the sharing of computational, experimental, and modeling methods and results for the following:
- Fundamental phase equilibria determinations (e.g., solidus/liquidus, eutectics, etc.)
- Determinations of enthalpy of formation, heat of transition/fusion, heat capacity, etc.
- Vapor pressures
- Viscosity
- Thermal conductivity
Our activities include:
- Organizing periodic workshops
- Engaging in round-robin measurement studies
- Circulating job searches
- Fostering collaborations
Content of Past Workshops
2025 Workshop on Effect of Oxygen, Hydrogen, and Moisture on Molten Salt Behavior Held June 3-4, 2025
The Workshop on Effect of Oxygen, Hydrogen, and Moisture on Molten Salt Behavior will be presented virtually 10 AM – 3 PM eastern U.S. time, June 3-4, 2025. The following topics will be covered:
- Challenges and best practices for measurement of oxygen, hydrogen, and moisture content in salts
- Current understanding of effects on thermochemical and thermophysical properties
- Modeling and measuring influence on redox state
- Modeled and observed effects on corrosion behavior
Meeting Resources:
2024 Workshop on Measurement and Analysis of Thermochemical and Thermophysical Properties of Molten Salts Held July 16-17, 2024
The Workshop on Measurement and Analysis of Thermochemical and Thermophysical Properties of Molten Salts will be presented virtually 10 AM – 3 PM eastern U.S. time, July 16-17, 2024. The goal is to help assure that experimentally determined property values for databases and applications are as accurate as possible with the uncertainties understood and reported. Experienced experimentalists will be presenting information on standards and best practices in both measurement and data analysis for obtaining and analyzing thermal and physical salt properties. Extensive discussion time has been allotted to allow a good exchange of information.
View the Resources:
- Meeting Agenda
- Individual Recorded Presentations
- Presentation Slides
- Vapor Pressure measurements of MSR Fuels – Ondrej Benes, JRC
- DSC/DTA for Phase Equilibria and Heat of Transition – Toni Karlsson, INL
- Calorimetric Methods for Heat Capacity Determination – Juliano Schorne-Pinto, USC
- Solution Calorimetry for Thermal Properties – Xiaofeng Guo, Washington State University
- X-ray, Synchrotron, and Neutron Diffraction Phase Purity and Structure Determination – Hanno zur Loye, USC
- Rolling Ball Viscometry for Molten Salts: Ensuring Measurement Accuracy, Quantifying Uncertainty – Tony Birri, ORNL
- Viscosity Measurements of Molten Salts by Rotational Viscometry – Melissa Rose, ANL
- Density by Gravitational Displacement Method and the Issue of Fluid Inclusions – Kyle Makovsky, PNNL
- Density Measurements of Molten Salts using Two-Electrode System – Jaewoo Park, Virginia Tech
- Variable Gap Thermal Conductivity Measurements at ORNL – Nicholas Termini, ORNL
- Transient Thermal Conductivity/Diffusivity Measurements – Troy Munro, BYU
2023 Training/Workshop in the Use of the Molten Salt Thermal Properties Databases Held April 25, 2023
Meeting Resources:
2021 Workshop on Thermochemical Properties Measurement and Modeling of Molten Salts Held November 15-17, 2021.
The November 2021 Virtual Workshop over the 15th, 16th and 17th, had 130 registrants representing DOE, the NRC, 7 national labs, 8 companies and 18 universities. It included 27 programmatic and research presentations, and 14 posters. We also had a very successful “collaboration” event with 6 virtual tables where participants could discuss specific topics and travel from table to table to engage in informal discussions.
View the Resources:
2020 Workshop on Computational Approaches for Modeling Molten Salts Held November 10-11, 2020
A strong interest in understanding best practices and limitations of first-principles and atomistic modeling encouraged this focused workshop hosted by the University of South Carolina, Nov. 10-11, 2020 of about 85 participants who heard program overviews and engaged in extended discussion.
View the Resources:
2020 Workshop for the Molten Salt Thermal Properties Working Group Held July 14-15, 2020
Meeting Resources:
How to Join?
To join the MSTPWG, email Dr. Besmann ([email protected]) with the following information:
- Name
- Position (staff, faculty, post-doc, etc.)
- Institution
- Email address
Note: If you have previously received emails related to MSTPWG, you are already a member.