Berkeley opens FLiNaK test bed

[Marlin]

Berkeley opens FLiNaK test bed

https://www.ans.org/news/2026-10-05/article-8461/berkeley-opens-flinak-test-bed/

[Core Content]

The University of California–Berkeley commissioned a forced-flow molten fluoride salt test bed operating at temperatures up to 700°C. The facility allows researchers to study heat transfer, component performance, and thermal dynamics for advanced fission and fusion systems. The generated data will help validate computational models for upcoming small reactors, microreactors, and fusion blanket designs.

The University of California–Berkeley now has a forced-flow molten fluoride salt test bed that circulates molten FLiNaK—a salt mixture containing lithium fluoride, sodium fluoride, and potassium fluoride—under conditions representative of many molten-salt nuclear energy applications.

Established by Berkeley professor Guanyu Su, the facility can operate between 500°C and 700°C, reach flow rates of up to 60 liters per minute, and maintain a temperature difference of up to 100 K between its hot and cold legs, according to the university.

First experiments: The test bed was commissioned earlier this year, during which the team demonstrated force-flow operation at temperatures above 600°C.

Read the full article at ans.org:
https://www.ans.org/news/2026-10-05/article-8461/berkeley-opens-flinak-test-bed/