Neutronic investigations of a laser fusion driven lithium cooled thorium breeder

ŞAHİN S., Sarer B., Celik Y.

PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY, vol.73, pp.188-196, 2014 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 73
  • Publication Date: 2014
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.pnucene.2014.02.001
  • Journal Name: PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR ENERGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.188-196
  • Keywords: Inertial confinement fusion, Thorium, TRISO particles, Natural lithium coolant, Tritium breeding, BED NUCLEAR-REACTOR, PRELIMINARY DESIGN, HYBRID BLANKET, FUEL
  • Gazi University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The paper investigates the main parameters of a Laser Inertial Confinement Fusion Fission Energy (LIFE) driven thorium breeder. A similar blanket to the (LIFE) engine design in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory is chosen in order to allow mutual feedback between two geographically separated teams towards a more advanced and improved design under consideration of totally independent views. In the basic design, frozen (D,T) fusion fuel ice is shot to the center of 5 m diameter spherical fusion reactor chamber cavity in pulsed mode (10-30 Hz). Fusion fuel burns through direct or indirect laser beam irradiation. The first wall surrounds the fusion chamber and is made of S-304 steel (2 cm). The fusion reactor cavity is kept in high vacuum. It is followed by a natural lithium coolant zone. A 2nd S-304 layer (2 cm) separates the lithium zone on the right side from the graphite reflector (30 cm). The outer boundary of the graphite reflector is also covered with a 3rd S-304 layer (2 cm).