Study on the fusion reactor performance with different materials and nuclear waste actinides

Abstract

Summary In this study, both pure fusion blanket and fusion‐fission (hybrid) reactor blanket performance were investigated and discussed separately in two phases. In the first phase, a Monte Carlo radiation damage analysis has been performed for stainless steel (SS304, SS316, and oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS)), molybdenum, vanadium, and tungsten as the first wall (FW) materials, in combination with selected tritium breeders. The main technical parameters for fusion reactors, such as tritium breeding ratio, fusion energy multiplication factor (M), displacement per atom (DPA), and gas production (He, H) have been evaluated. All numerical calculations have been carried out in spherical geometry with MCNP6 code package using continuous energy cross‐sections from the ENDF/B‐VIII.0 library, except DPA calculations. Instead of the ENDF/B‐VIII.0 library, the 30‐group CLAW‐IV library was employed for DPA calculations. Structural material selection for the FW respect to radiation damage limits and reactor performance for energy production and tritium has been concluded. Conventional thermal reactors, such as light water reactors andCanada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactors are producing substantial quantities of transuranic elements, which represent serious nuisance and permanent hazard potential. On the other hand, they become fissionable material under high energetic fusion neutron irradiation and multiply the fusion energy. In the second phase, the investigations are extended to the incineration of minor actinides (MA) in the fusion‐fission (hybrid) mode. The transmutation history of MA nuclear waste is included. MA are added into the first zone of the coolant in TRi‐structural ISOtropic particle TRISO particles with a volume fraction of 6%. The transformation scenario for all MA by SS 304 steel FW is practically the same as with the ODS FW.

The Joining of Copper to Stainless Steel by Solid-State Welding Processes: A Review

“…The hypervapotron [ 122 , 137 , 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 , 142 ] is a device which can mitigate the effect of heat flux up to 20–30 MW/m 2 on the entire structure of the fusion reactor. Copper alloy acts as a heat sink [ 143 , 144 , 145 , 146 , 147 , 148 ] while austenitic stainless steel plays its role as a structural component [ 123 , 149 , 150 , 151 , 152 , 153 ]. Hence, sustainable joining technology for the mentioned application is necessary.…”

Materials to Be Used in Future Magnetic Confinement Fusion Reactors: A Review

“…The neutrons bombarding the structure of the materials can lead to their activation, which is why low-activation materials (that do not result in long-lived radioactive isotopes) must be used. This implies that their chemical composition should be based on elements such as Fe, V, Ti, W or Ta, among others [ 57 , 58 ].…”

“…During the fabrication and processing of these alloys, impurity levels (e.g., C, O and N) must be carefully controlled due to possible degradation of mechanical properties. Based on these considerations, a protective or high-vacuum atmosphere is normally used to prepare the alloy, whose maximum operating temperature is 700 °C [ 58 , 91 , 93 ].…”

Evaluation of the Radiation-Protective Properties of Bi (Pb)–Sr–Ca–Cu–O Ceramic Prepared at Different Temperatures with Silver Inclusion

“…In FR, extreme energy (~14 MeV) and high density of neutrons is induced during the tritium–deuterium fusion reaction. High energy neutrons cause diverse reactions with fusion reactor building materials to emit γ rays with energies of up to 10–20 MeV [ 3 ].…”