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Title: Reactor concepts for laser fusion

Abstract

Scoping studies were initiated to identify attractive reactor concepts for producing electric power with laser fusion. Several exploratory reactor concepts were developed and are being subjected to our criteria for comparing long-range sources of electrical energy: abundance, social costs, technical feasibility, and economic competitiveness. The exploratory concepts include: a liquid-lithium-cooled stainless steel manifold, a gas-cooled graphite manifold, and fluidized wall concepts, such as a liquid lithium ''waterfall'', and a ceramic-lithium pellet ''waterfall''. Two of the major reactor vessel problems affecting the technical feasibility of a laser fusion power plant are: the effects of high-energy neutrons and cyclical stresses on the blanket structure and the effects of x-rays and debris from the fusion microexplosion on the first-wall. The liquid lithium ''waterfall'' concept is presented here in more detail as an approach which effectively deals with these damaging effects.

Authors:
;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
OSTI Identifier:
5232953
Report Number(s):
UCRL-79654; CONF-771102-11
TRN: 78-005056
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 20. annual AICHE meeting, New York, NY, USA, 13 Nov 1977
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY; LASER FUSION REACTORS; FEASIBILITY STUDIES; CONTAINERS; COOLING SYSTEMS; ECONOMICS; FIRST WALL; LASER-PRODUCED PLASMA; STAINLESS STEELS; ALLOYS; CHROMIUM ALLOYS; CORROSION RESISTANT ALLOYS; IRON ALLOYS; IRON BASE ALLOYS; PLASMA; STEELS; THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR WALLS; THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS; 700208* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Inertial Confinement Technology

Citation Formats

Meier, W R, and Maniscalco, J A. Reactor concepts for laser fusion. United States: N. p., 1977. Web.
Meier, W R, & Maniscalco, J A. Reactor concepts for laser fusion. United States.
Meier, W R, and Maniscalco, J A. 1977. "Reactor concepts for laser fusion". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/5232953.
@article{osti_5232953,
title = {Reactor concepts for laser fusion},
author = {Meier, W R and Maniscalco, J A},
abstractNote = {Scoping studies were initiated to identify attractive reactor concepts for producing electric power with laser fusion. Several exploratory reactor concepts were developed and are being subjected to our criteria for comparing long-range sources of electrical energy: abundance, social costs, technical feasibility, and economic competitiveness. The exploratory concepts include: a liquid-lithium-cooled stainless steel manifold, a gas-cooled graphite manifold, and fluidized wall concepts, such as a liquid lithium ''waterfall'', and a ceramic-lithium pellet ''waterfall''. Two of the major reactor vessel problems affecting the technical feasibility of a laser fusion power plant are: the effects of high-energy neutrons and cyclical stresses on the blanket structure and the effects of x-rays and debris from the fusion microexplosion on the first-wall. The liquid lithium ''waterfall'' concept is presented here in more detail as an approach which effectively deals with these damaging effects.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5232953}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977},
month = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1977}
}

Conference:
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