Prospect of nuclear waste transmutation and power production in fusion reactors

Journal Article · Tue Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1996 · Fusion Technology

OSTI ID:447249

Cheng, E T; Cerbone, R J ^[1]

---

1. TSI Research, Inc., Solana Beach, CA (United States)

A small tokamak-based fusion reactor can be attractive for actinide waste transmutation. Equilibrium concentrations of transuranium isotopes were estimated in a molten-salt based fusion transmutation reactor. Nuclear performance parameters were derived for two types of fusion-driven transmutation reactors: Pu-assisted and minor actinides-only systems. The minor actinide-only burning system appears to be the ultimate fusion transmutation reactor. Because such a transmutation system can destroy the minor actinides generated in 35 LWRs, each of which produces the same thermal power as the transmutation reactor. However, a Pu-assisted transmutation reactor may achieve the same thermal power at a lower fusion power because of the higher energy multiplication in the blanket. It can therefore be developed as a shorter-term technology to demonstrate the viable long-term solution to nuclear waste. 13 refs., 2 figs., 4 tabs.

• DOE Contract Number: FG03-92ER81310
• OSTI ID: 447249
• Report Number(s): CONF-9606116--
• Journal Information: Fusion Technology, Journal Name: Fusion Technology Journal Issue: 3 Vol. 30; ISSN 0748-1896; ISSN FUSTE8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

05 NUCLEAR FUELS
66 PHYSICS
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
ACTINIDES
BREEDING
DESIGN
FIRST WALL
NUMERICAL DATA
PLUTONIUM
RADIOACTIVE WASTES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
THERMONUCLEAR POWER PLANTS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR MATERIALS
TOKAMAK DEVICES
TOROIDAL FIELD DIVERTORS
TRANSMUTATION
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
TRITIUM
WATER COOLED REACTORS