Development of cost assessment code of fusion power reactors

Although the R and D of nuclear fusion has steadily progressed as seen in, for example, the improvement in plasma confinement, it is estimated that the R and D for practical use of fusion energy requires considerable amount of cost. Therefore, it is an essential issue to investigate the prospect of realizing fusion power reactors. In this study, we have developed a cost assessment code for fusion power reactors, with which plasma and plant characteristics of a commercial plant are determined and cost of electricity for the plant is calculated. In this code, plasma parameters and a plant power flow are calculated consistently to the latest database, 'ITER Physics Design Guidelines 1989', and in the cost calculation the Japanese method and data are employed as far as possible. The results of some cases of power reactors calculated with this code shows that reactors with small aspect ratios (the ratio of plasma major radius to a minor radius) are not economically feasible because too much auxiliary power is required for plasma current drive. (author)