A survey of the neutronic properties of tight aspect ratio tokamak reactors

The neutronic properties of the Tight Aspect Ratio Tokamak Reactor (TARTR) concept have been examined to provide a preliminary assessment of its nuclear characteristics. Firstly, calculations of the tritium breeding ratio and nuclear power distribution have been used to quantify the geometric effect of a range of aspect ratios from 1.2 to infinity. Significant advantages for the tight aspect ratio concept have been demonstrated. Secondly, the principal irradiation damage rates have been calculated for the replacable central conductor, demonstrating the need to examine the relative merits of shielded and unshielded conductors as part of the reactor system optimisation. (orig.)