Closed-vessel molten salt fission reactor

A closed-vessel molten salt reactor comprising:

• an enclosure defining an internal cavity;
• a resistive heater within the internal cavity and configured to heat a salt mixture to bring the salt mixture to a temperature facilitating a fission reaction, the salt mixture comprising a fissile material dissolved in a salt;
• a container configured to contain the salt mixture, the salt mixture disposed in the container to a selected volume less than an internal volume of the container, the container suspended within the internal cavity defined by the enclosure, the container is arranged for movement between a first orientation with reference to the enclosure and a second orientation with reference to the enclosure, and the container comprising:
• a moderator layer formed from a moderator material defining a first internal surface of the container, the first internal surface having a first corrugated profile and configured to contact the salt mixture when the container is oriented in the first orientation with reference to the enclosure, thereby moderating the fission reaction;
• a control layer formed from boron carbide and defining a second internal surface of the container, the second internal surface having a second corrugated profile and positioned opposite the moderator layer and configured to contact the salt mixture when the container is oriented in the second orientation with reference to the enclosure, thereby controlling a speed of the fission reaction, and configured to separate from the salt mixture when the container is oriented in the first orientation;
• and
• a body supporting the moderator layer and the control layer, the body enclosing the internal volume of the container and the resistive heater.