Symbiosis of Coupled Systems of Fusion D-³He Satellites and Tritium and ³He Generators

A model for the analysis of the growth rates of the reactor economies, the associated material flows, the energy balances of a system of coupled D-³He satellites and ³He generators, and fusion, hybrid, and fission reactors is developed to explore different system configurations and implementation strategies. Hybrids or fuel factories have low electrical support ratios ranging from 0.08 to 0.17. For generators based on the deuterium-tritium fuel cycle, the electrical support ratios range from 1.1, at 10 yr after implementation, to 2.4 after 50 yr. For generators based on the semi-catalyzed deuterium-deuterium (SCD) fuel cycle, these numbers are 2.5 and 4.5, respectively. The maximization of the support ratios is associated with a saturation tritium inventory of 3 kg/MW(thermal) of SCD fusion generators and 0.63 kg/MW(thermal) of the total installed capacity. The options available for system implementation using large support ratios with tritium breeding or low support ratios without tritium breeding are discussed.