Copenhagen Atomics has successfully completed two years of continuous operation of a molten salt pump and test loop at its facilities in Copenhagen, marking a significant milestone for the company's pumped molten salt loop platform. This achievement demonstrates long-term, stable pump operation under high-temperature molten salt conditions, a crucial prerequisite for regulatory approval and commercial deployment.
The system has been running without issues, accumulating over 100,000 hours of combined pump runtime across the company's test infrastructure. This milestone is particularly notable given the limited operational experience of molten salt reactors worldwide, with fewer than a handful having operated for short periods.
Copenhagen Atomics' vertically integrated approach to design and production allows it to run long-duration tests at a fraction of the cost typically seen in national laboratories or large research facilities. The company's development of a fundamentally different type of nuclear reactor based on molten-salt technology holds promise for lower costs, scalable deployment, and reduced waste characteristics.
Demonstrating continuous pump operation under realistic conditions for two full years is a major technical validation and an important step toward commercial and regulatory readiness. This achievement underscores the potential of molten salt technology to address global energy needs in a sustainable manner.
This milestone validates the reliability and durability of molten salt pumps, which are critical components for the successful deployment of these reactors. As the industry continues to mature, we can expect to see further advancements in this area, driving down costs and increasing efficiency.
