Direct fission fragment energy converter - Magnetic collimator option
- Dept. of Nuclear Engineering, Texas AandM Univ., 129 Zachry Engineering Center, College Station, TX 77843-3133 (United States)
The present study was focused on developing a technologically feasible power system that is based on direct fission fragment energy conversion utilizing magnetic collimation. The new concept is an attempt to combine several advantageous design solutions, which have been proposed for application in both fission and fusion reactors, into one innovative system that can offer exceptional energy conversion efficiency. The analysis takes into consideration a wide range of operational aspects including fission fragment escape from the fuel, collimation, collection, criticality, long-term performance, energy conversion efficiency, heat removal, and safety characteristics. Specific characteristics of the individual system components and the entire system are evaluated. Analysis and evaluation of the technological feasibility of the concept were achieved using state-of-the-art computer codes that allowed realistic and consistent modeling. In addition to the extensive computational effort, the scaled prototype experimental proof-of-principle program was conducted to validate basic physics of the concept. The program was focused on electromagnetic components and experimental demonstration of performance. This paper summarizes the final results of the 6-years research program including both computational and experimental efforts. Potential future research and development and anticipated applications are discussed. (authors)
- Research Organization:
- American Nuclear Society, 555 North Kensington Avenue, La Grange Park, IL 60526 (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 22039733
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AFTER-HEAT REMOVAL
COLLIMATORS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CRITICALITY
DESIGN
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FISSION FRAGMENTS
FISSION PRODUCTS
MATHEMATICAL SOLUTIONS
POWER SYSTEMS
REACTOR SAFETY
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS