PACER revisited

Conference · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Fusion Technol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6256417

Moir, R W

This paper discusses a modified version of the PACER concept for power and nuclear material production. In the PACER concept, a 20-kt peaceful nuclear explosion is contained in a cavity about 200 m in diameter, filled with 200 atm of 500/sup 0/C steam. Energy from the explosion is used to produce power, and the neutrons are used to produce materials such as /sup 233/U. The present idea is to modify the PACER concept in three ways to improve the practicality, predictability, and safety of power production from this technology and thus improve public acceptance of this power source. These improvements are (1) line the cavity with steel; (2) replace the steam with molten salt, LiF + BeF/sub 2/; and (3) reduce the explosive yield to about 2 kt. PACER is the only fusion power concept where the underlying technology of the power source itself is proven and in hand today. The molten-salt shock-suppression and heat transport system and the durability of the underground cavity need demonstration.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., Univ. of California, Livermore, CA (US)
• OSTI ID: 6256417
• Report Number(s): CONF-881031-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Fusion Technol.; (United States) Journal Volume: 15:2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

050700 -- Nuclear Fuels-- Fuels Production & Properties
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
45 MILITARY TECHNOLOGY, WEAPONRY, AND NATIONAL DEFENSE
450200* -- Military Technology
Weaponry
& National Defense-- Nuclear Explosions & Explosives
70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700203 -- Fusion Power Plant Technology-- Power Supplies
Energy Storage
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BARYONS
BERYLLIUM COMPOUNDS
BERYLLIUM FLUORIDES
COMPUTER CODES
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY TRANSFER
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
EXPLOSIONS
FERMIONS
FLUORIDES
FLUORINE COMPOUNDS
FUELS
HADRONS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HEAT TRANSFER
HEAVY NUCLEI
IRON ALLOYS
IRON BASE ALLOYS
ISOTOPES
LINERS
LITHIUM COMPOUNDS
LITHIUM FLUORIDES
LITHIUM HALIDES
MATERIALS
NEUTRONS
NUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
NUCLEAR FUELS
NUCLEI
NUCLEONS
P CODES
POWER GENERATION
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTOR SAFETY
SAFETY
STEADY-STATE FUSION REACTORS
STEELS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
UNDERGROUND FACILITIES
URANIUM 233
URANIUM ISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES