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Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
Layton J. Wittenberg
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 21 | Number 2 | March 1992 | Pages 886-890
Material; Storage and Processing | doi.org/10.13182/FST92-A29862
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A computational model is presented in order to assess the cost of tritium breeding in a fusion power reactor. This model compares the differential cost of the Li-bearing breeder blanket with that of a steel shield and adds the “loss of revenue” due to the lower energy multiplication of the breeder blanket compared to the steel shield. The cost of tritium production ranges from $215–$300/g for a simple breeder up to $1420/g for a high temperature breeder.