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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.
Brent L. Rice, Theodore A. Parish
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 15 | Number 2 | March 1989 | Pages 1125-1129
Alternate Fuels and Innovative Confinement Concept | doi.org/10.13182/FST89-A39844
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A model is developed to describe the tritium and fissile fuel flow in a fusion-fission system which consists of a fusion (hybrid) reactor, tritium production (fission) reactors, and (fission) power reactors. The fusion reactor provides all of the fissile fuel for the tritium production and power reactors. Tritium production reactors assure that the system is self sufficient in tritium even if the fusion reactor is not self sufficient. Studies were performed to determine the changes in the cost of electricity from the system as the tritium breeding responsibility varies between the fusion reactor and the tritium production reactors. Allowance for system growth was accomplished with the use of a compound doubling time parameter. Results indicate that the cost of electricity from certain fusion-fission systems may be comparable to that from other advanced systems expected in the same era.