NEUTRON ECONOMY IN FUSION REACTOR BLANKET ASSEMBLIES.
Abstract
The conceptual design of a blanket assembly for a hypothesized fusion power reactor is considered from the point of view of neutron economy. Containment of a steadystate thermonuclear plasma composed of equal parts of deuterium and tritium in a cylindrical configuration is assumed. Requirements and limitations imposed on the blanket by the plasma and by other components of the reactor system are analyzed, and the conceptual arrangement of a suitable blanket utilizing a refractory metal first wall and fused-salt cooling is presented. Neutron transport and scattering models are compared in terms of applicability to the present problem. Calculated tritium breeding ratios and neutron-induced reaction rates in a variety of permutations on the basic blanket configuration are summarized and compared. It is shown that the proposed blanket design is adequate from the point of view of neutron economy. A reasonable degree of flexibility for satisfying other requirements imposed on the blanket is indicated when suitable combinations of nuclides are exploited. Consideration is given also to several shielding configurations and to the potential merits of various materials, including certain fissile nuclides, not treated in this study. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 22, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0619668
Entities
People
- Albert J. Impink Jr.
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology