Direct heat exchanger for molten chloride fast reactor

A molten chloride fast reactor (MCFR) comprising:

• a plurality of reflectors defining a central core, wherein the central core includes a first end, an opposite second end, and a core geometric center disposed therebetween;
• a flow channel fluidically connected to the central core, wherein the flow channel includes an outlet flow channel positioned proximate the second end of the central core and an inlet flow channel positioned proximate the first end of the central core;
• a primary heat exchanger (PHX) disposed outside the central core and within the flow channel between the outlet flow channel and the inlet flow channel;
• a pump disposed within the flow channel between the PHX and the outlet flow channel;
• and
• a decay heat heat exchanger (DHHX) disposed within the flow channel between the outlet flow channel and the pump, wherein at least a portion of the DHHX is disposed above the core geometric center, and wherein a fuel salt is configured to circulate via the pump at least partially through the outlet flow channel, the DHHX, the PHX, the inlet flow channel, and the central core in a direction such that at the first end of the central core the fuel salt has a lower temperature than the fuel salt at the second end of the central core.