Tokamak reactor blanket concept that permits on-line fueling/refueling

Fusion power reactors must be designed to maximize the plant availability. However, high plant availabilities are difficult to attain in fusion reactors because of the relative inaccessibility of the blanket(s) and the need for remote blanket handling during blanket fueling/refueling. A new blanket concept has been developed to solve this and other major reactor design problems. The blanket permits on-line fueling/refueling. It is particularly attractive for fission suppressed fissile breeding hybrid reactors where continuous or frequent batch reprocessing is desired. The concept consists of packed beds of solid tritium breeding material for fusion power reactors or microsphere fertile fuel particles for fissile breeding reactors. Fuel shuffling and blanket refueling are carried out by fluidizing the fuel particles. 4 refs