Inertial fusion energy power plant design using the Compact Torus Accelerator: HYLIFE-CT
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Schafer (W.J.) Associates, Inc., Pleasanton, CA (United States)
- California Univ., Davis, CA (United States). Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
The Compact Torus Accelerator (CTA), under development at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, offers the promise of a low-cost, high-efficiency, high energy, high-power-density driver for ICF and MICF (Magnetically Insulated ICF) type fusion systems. A CTA with 100 MJ driver capacitor bank energy is predicted to deliver {approximately}30 MJ CT kinetic energy to a 1 cm{sup 2} target in several nanoseconds for a power density of {approximately}10{sup 16} watts/cm{sup 2}. The estimated cost of delivered energy is {approximately}3$/Joule, or $100M for 30 MJ. This driver appears to be cost-effective and, in this regard, is virtually alone among IFE drivers. We discuss indirect-drive ICF with a DT fusion energy gain Q = 70 for a total yield of 2 GJ. The CT can be guided to the target inside a several-meter-long disposable cone made of frozen Li{sub 2}BeF{sub 4}, the same material as the coolant. We have designed a power plant including CT injection, target emplacement, containment, energy recovery, and tritium breeding. The cost of electricity is predicted to be 4.8 {cents}/kWh, which is competitive with future coal and nuclear costs.
- Research Organization:
- Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- OSTI ID:
- 5729085
- Report Number(s):
- UCRL-JC-109680; CONF-920607-2; ON: DE92008941
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 10. topical meeting on technology of fusion energy, Boston, MA (United States), 7-12 Jun 1992
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ICF DEVICES
DESIGN
COMPACT TORUS
COST
D-T REACTORS
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
HYLIFE CONVERTER
INERTIAL CONFINEMENT
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFINEMENT
ECONOMICS
LASER FUSION REACTORS
PLASMA CONFINEMENT
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
TORI
700411* - Inertial Confinement Devices- (1992-)