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Second round of Launch Pad selections includes eight newcomers
The National Reactor Innovation Center at Idaho National Laboratory has announced 13 project selections across 12 companies for the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad, a Department of Energy–led program that integrates reactor and fuel facility authorization, testing, and deployment support for private nuclear developers.
The Launch Pad emerged from the Reactor Pilot Program and Fuel Line Pilot Program.
According to INL, projects selected include reactor development and nuclear fuel cycle advancements, including fabrication, enrichment, and conversion technologies.
Geoffrey W. Shuy, Ali E. Dabiri, Husam Gurol
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 9 | Number 3 | May 1986 | Pages 459-475
Technical Paper | Fusion Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/FST86-A24732
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A system of neutron-lean tandem mirror satellite reactors using the deuterium-3He (D-3He) fuel cycle has been assessed. The 3He fuel is produced via a breeder reactor, also based on the tandem mirror reactor (TMR) concept. The TMR concept was selected because, for the satellite reactors, the fusion energy is mostly in charged-particle form, so efficient, direct energy conversion can be used. For the breeder, the TMR gives a higher maximum achievable support ratio than other concepts give. The optimum satellite operating temperature was found to be ∼75 keV. The safety and cost of the satellite/breeder system were assessed. The D-3He fuel cycle becomes particularly attractive if the deuterium-deuterium (D-D) reaction can be suppressed by nuclear spin polarization. For perfect D-D reaction suppression, this would allow immediate hands-on maintainability of reactor components and allow for reduction in the magnet dimensions, since the shield would no longer be required. For no D-D reaction suppression, ∼3% of the fusion power will be in neutrons. This will then require the use of ∼40-cm shielding, along with activation concerns. Hands-on maintenance f or the satellite reactor is possible even without D-D reaction suppression, if low-activation materials are used. The radioactivity level of the 3He breeder is comparable to that of a deuterium-tritium reactor. The cost of electricity for the system, including the fuel costs, is estimated f or this system.