Fundamentals of Magnetic Thermonuclear Reactor Design

Vasilij A. Glukhikh, Oleg Gennadievich Filatov, Boris Nikolaevich Kolbasov

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9780081024706
• eBook ISBN: 9780081024713
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Industrial Health & Safety
• Index: Technology & Engineering

Fundamentals of Magnetic Thermonuclear Reactor Design is a comprehensive resource on fusion technology and energy systems written by renowned scientists and engineers from the Russian nuclear industry. It brings together a wealth of invaluable experience and knowledge on controlled thermonuclear fusion (CTF) facilities with magnetic plasma confinement – from the first semi-commercial tokamak T-3, to the multi-billion international experimental thermonuclear reactor ITER, now in construction in France. As the INTOR and ITER projects have made an immense contribution in the past few decades, this book focuses on its practical engineering aspects and the basics of technical physics and electrical engineering. Users will gain an understanding of the key ratios between plasma and technical parameters, design streamlining algorithms and engineering solutions. - Written by a team of qualified experts who have been involved in the design of thermonuclear reactors for over 50 years - Outlines the most important features of the ITER project in France which is building the largest tokamak, including the design, material selection, safety and economic considerations - Includes data on how to design magnetic fusion reactors using CAD tools, along with relevant regulatory documents

Chapter 1

Engineering and Physical Principles of the Magnetic Fusion Reactor Operation

Vasilij A. Glukhikh JSC D.V. Efremov Scientific Research Institute of Electrophysical Apparatus, Saint Petersburg, Russia

Abstract

The basis for thermonuclear power engineering is nuclear fusion, which occurs when deuterium, tritium and helium-3 nuclei collide and fuse together. For deuterium–tritium fusion reaction to proceed, a quasi-neutral plasma is required, which must be kept thermally insulated from the reactor walls and heated to ∼10⁸ K. There are two possible approaches to solving this problem: (1) isolate a quasi-stationary plasma using an external magnetic field (fusion reactors with magnetic confinement) and (2) get a dense (n ∼ 10²⁸ m⁻³) hydrogen fuel capsule compressed from all sides in a pulsed mode (∼10⁻⁸ s), then heat the fuel to “fusion” temperatures and burn it (inertial confinement fusion reactors). In this book, we confine ourselves to the discussion of magnetic fusion reactors, mainly the tokamaks.

Keywords

controlled thermonuclear fusion

deuterium–tritium fusion

inertial plasma confinement

magnetic plasma confinement

tokamaks

tritium breeding

Chapter Outline

1. 1.1 Introduction
2. 1.2 Physical Basis of Fusion Power Engineering
3. 1.3 Basic Correlations
4. References

1.1. Introduction

The basis for fusion power engineering is nuclear fusion, which occurs when two deuterium, tritium and helium-3 nuclei collide and fuse together. The following fusion reactions are of practical significance:

1. 1. $\text{D}+\text{D}\to \text{T}\left(1\text{.01}\text{MeV}\right)+P\left(3.03\text{MeV}\right)$
   
2. 2. $\text{D}+\text{D}\to {}^3\text{He}\left(\text{0}\text{.82}\text{MeV}\right)+n\left(2.45\text{MeV}\right)$
   
3. 3. $\text{D}+\text{T}\to {}^4\text{He}\left(3\text{.52}\text{MeV}\right)+n\left(14.06\text{MeV}\right)$
   
4. 4. $\text{D}+{}^3\text{He}\to {}^4\text{He}\left(3\text{.67}\text{MeV}\right)+P\left(14.67\text{MeV}\right)$
   

The full cycle of nuclear conversions within the initial deuterium plasma can be described as

$6\text{D}\to 2^4\text{He}+2p+2n+43.3\text{MeV}$

The potential power of nuclear fusion reactions is millions of times greater than that of chemical reactions.

Deuterium and protium are found in water, their ratio being 1:6500. We can tally the “nuclear energy” content of 1 L of water: it equals the energy released by burning 400 L of gasoline! Trace amounts of tritium are continuously generated in the atmosphere by cosmic rays. For power engineering purposes, tritium must be produced in man-made fusion or fission reactors through the interaction of neutrons with lithium isotopes:

$\begin{array}{l}{}^6\text{Li}+n\to \text{T}+{}^4\text{He}+4.8\text{MeV}\\ {}^7\text{Li}+n\to \text{T}+{}^4\text{He}+n^{\prime }–2.5\text{MeV}\end{array}$

1.2. Physical Basis of Fusion Power Engineering

The fusion reaction power is

$P_{fus}=\int n_1{n}_2<\sigma v>E_{f}d{V}_p$

(1.1)

where n = n₁ + n₂; n₁, n₂ and ν are the mean plasma concentration, concentration of interacting nuclei and their relative velocity, respectively; σ is the reaction cross-sect...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Book Summary
• List of Contributors
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Disclaimer
• Abbreviations
• Designations
• Chapter 1: Engineering and Physical Principles of the Magnetic Fusion Reactor Operation
• Chapter 2: Facilities With Magnetic Plasma Confinement
• Chapter 3: ITER – International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor
• Chapter 4: Simulation of Electromagnetic Fields
• Chapter 5: Superconducting Magnet Systems
• Chapter 6: Vacuum and Tritium System
• Chapter 7: First Wall Components
• Chapter 8: Plasma Control System
• Chapter 9: Plasma Heating Systems
• Chapter 10: Blanket
• Chapter 11: Power Supply Systems
• Chapter 12: Mechanics of Magnetic Fusion Reactors
• Chapter 13: Structural and Functional Materials: Selection Criteria and Radiation Characteristics
• Chapter 14: Safety of Fusion Reactors
• Index