Fusion breeder reactor based on a catalyzed D-D spherical torus. Final report, 8 August 1986
One of the potentially attractive applications of nuclear fusion is to breed fissile fuel for use in fission reactors. This thesis examines a novel nonpower-producing fusion reactor based on the spherical torus concept with a catalyzed deuterium-deuterium fuel cycle and aqueous self-cooled blanket for use as a fissile breeder. The breeding of fissile fuel is accomplished by dissolving a uranium salt, uranyl nitrite, in heavy water which flows through the first wall and blanket providing both cooling and fissile breeding. The need for tritium breeding is eliminated by the use of a catalyzed D-D fuel cycle. Analysis of this novel reactor concept indicates a fissile breeding ratio of 1.34 Pu-239/source neutron using a 15-cm beryllium moderator and 7 mo1% uranyl nitrite in the heavy water. A typical reactor using this blanket can produce more than 8000 kg/yr of plutonium at a cost of less than $40 per gram. This indicates the potential for a reactor which can provide fissile fuel at, or below, its current mined cost.
- Research Organization:
- Army Military Personnel Center, Alexandria, VA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 7127357
- Report Number(s):
- AD-A-173879/8/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS
BREEDER REACTORS
NUCLEAR FUELS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
BREEDING BLANKETS
CLADDING
DEUTERIUM
EFFICIENCY
FISSIONABLE MATERIALS
FUEL CYCLE
HEAVY WATER
PLUTONIUM
PLUTONIUM 239
TORI
URANIUM COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE COMPOUNDS
ACTINIDE ISOTOPES
ACTINIDE NUCLEI
ACTINIDES
ALPHA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
DEPOSITION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
EVEN-ODD NUCLEI
FUELS
HEAVY NUCLEI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATERIALS
METALS
NUCLEI
ODD-ODD NUCLEI
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLUTONIUM ISOTOPES
RADIOISOTOPES
REACTOR COMPONENTS
REACTOR MATERIALS
REACTORS
STABLE ISOTOPES
SURFACE COATING
TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS
WATER
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
700201* - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Blanket Engineering
700205 - Fusion Power Plant Technology- Fuel
Heating
& Injection Systems
050700 - Nuclear Fuels- Fuels Production & Properties