Introduction

Abstract

Any experimental chemist contemplating using molten salts—whether smallscale laboratory investigations or large-scale industrial operations are envisaged—will rapidly become aware of the diverse new practical skills to be acquired. Novel engineering designs, elaborate glassblowing, extreme materials specifications, as well as finely developed appreciation of basic chemical principles (including corrosion problems) will force newcomers to the field to adopt a reoriented outlook. Thus, a multitude of unfamiliar difficulties, that may require unique solutions, must be overcome when building a new molten salt facility. At least three areas of separate expertise need to be confronted:

• The Molten System per se — its chemistry and that of all materials, solutes associated with it.

• The Hardware — equipment to run at elevated temperatures in aggressive environments, possibly at reduced or increased pressure

• The Measurements — application and control of signals, data collection and processing, preferably with automation.