Power supply requirements for a tokamak fusion reactor

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Nucl. Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5841425

Brooks, J N; Kustom, R L

The power supply requirements for a 7-m major radius commerical tokamak reactor have been examined, using a system approach combining models of the reactor and poloidal coil set, plasma burn cycle and magnetohydrodynamics calculations, and power supply characteristics and cost data. A conventional system using a motor-generator flywheel set and solid-state rectifier-inverter power supplies was studied in addition to systems using a homopolar generator, superconducting energy storage inductor, and dump resistors. The requirements and cost of the power supplies depend on several factors but most critically on the ohmic heating ramp time used for startup. Long ramp times (greater than or equal to 8 s) seem to be feasible, from the standpoint of resistive volt-second losses, and would appear to make conventional systems quite competitive with nonconventional ones, which require further research and development.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Lab., IL
• OSTI ID: 5841425
• Journal Information: Nucl. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: Nucl. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 46:1; ISSN NUTYB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700203* -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Power Supplies
Energy Storage
ELECTRIC COILS
ELECTRIC GENERATORS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ENERGY STORAGE
EQUIPMENT
MAGNET COILS
MAGNETIC ENERGY STORAGE
POWER SUPPLIES
STORAGE
SUPERCONDUCTING COILS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TOKAMAK TYPE REACTORS