Technology and economics of hydrogen production from fusion reactors

The technology, economics, and environmental effects of producing synthetic fuels (H2 gas, H2 liquid, and methanol) based on fusion (CTR) reactors are assessed. Four United States energy systems (2020 A.D.) with different degrees of CTR implementation are compared: in System A, no CTR input is assumed; in System B, CTRs replace 50 percent of nuclear fission electric; in System C, CTRs supply all electrical demand, produce synthetic fuels to replace all oil and gas imports, and eliminate strip mining; and in System D, CTRs supply all electrical demand and virtually all fuel demand. CTR reactor costs are analyzed in detail for a range of containment parameters, reactor outputs, and first well loadings for DT and catalyzed DD fuel cycles