Plasma and Fusion Research

Volume 14, 1405040 (2019)

Regular Articles

Economy of Tokamak Neutron Source for Transmutation of Transuranics
Ryosuke SAKAI, Takaaki FUJITA and Atsushi OKAMOTO
Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan
(Received 18 March 2018 / Accepted 11 November 2018 / Published 12 February 2019)

Abstract

This paper evaluates the economy of a tokamak neutron source for transuranics transmutation using the Physics-Engineering-Cost system code. We compared two devices, one with normal conductive coil (NCC) and another with superconducting coil (SCC). The plasma performance was assumed to be moderate ones. The cost of neutron (CON) was used to measure the economy, taking into account the selling net electricity (Pe-net). We scanned the plasma aspect ratio (A) and thickness of inboard-side shield of an NCC device. It was revealed that ohmic loss in the magnetic coils (Pcoil) is the dominant factor on determining the optimum aspect ratio for the economy of an NCC device. On the other hand, in an SCC device, the dependence of CON on the aspect ratio is relatively weak due to the absence of Pcoil and smaller weight of the coils. Moreover, as the inboard-side shield of an NCC device became thicker, the economy of the device became worse. It was found that enough plant availability in SCC settings, which presupposes development of a remote-handling system, results in the relatively higher economic potential of SCC settings than of NCC settings.

Keywords

neutron source, transuranic, aspect ratio, normal conductive coil, superconducting coil, circulating power, cost

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.14.1405040

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