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Economic Evaluation of D-T, D-³He, and Catalyzed D-D Fusion Reactors

Takuya KONDO, Kozo YAMAZAKI, Tetsutarou OISHI, Hideki ARIMOTO and Tatsuo SHOJI

Department of Energy Engineering and Science, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan

(Received 9 December 2011 / Accepted 26 March 2012 / Published 26 July 2012)

Abstract

Because the D-³He reaction generates no neutrons and the D-D reaction can use abundant fuel resources, these reactions are expected to be used in advanced fuel fusion reactors. Economic considerations and engineering problems are important for realizing such reactors as commercial plants. Therefore, we estimate and compare the cost of electricity (COE) from D-T, D-³He, and catalyzed D-D (cat D-D) fusion reactors. D-³He and cat D-D reactors have a low neutron wall load. Therefore, the D-³He reactor has no wall replacement cost. In addition, no tritium breeding system is needed for the D-³He reactor, but ³He gas is rare. Because the reaction rates of the D-³He and D-D reactions are less, D-³He and D-D reactors require highly efficient confinement properties and operation at high ion temperatures. Furthermore, the power densities of D-³He and D-D reactors are smaller than that of the D-T reactor; thus, D-³He and D-D reactors require a large plasma volume. Assuming a high ion temperature (= 60 keV) and high normalized beta (= 7-8), the COE of a D-³He reactor is expected to be similar to that of a D-T reactor. In terms of cost, cat D-D is disadvantageous in comparison with D-³He and D-T reactors.

Copyright (c) 2012 The Japan Society of Plasma Science and Nuclear Fusion Research

Keywords

cost of electricity, economic, D-³He, D-D, tokamak reactor, spherical tokamak

DOI: 10.1585/pfr.7.2405067

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This paper may be cited as follows:

Takuya KONDO, Kozo YAMAZAKI, Tetsutarou OISHI, Hideki ARIMOTO and Tatsuo SHOJI, Plasma Fusion Res. 7, 2405067 (2012).