Cascade: A centrifugal-action solidbreeder reaction chamber

The Cascade concept uses the high-temperature (1200 K) potential of a solid Li2O pebble blanket in conjunction with centrifugal action to produce a safe and highly efficient (up to 55%) reaction chamber for commercial power production. One option using a 25-mm-thick steel wall is shown to have low primary stresses of 22 MPa, which when coupled with a secondary thermal stress of 132 MPa, satisfies the intent and methodology for an ASME-designed vessel. A high tritium breeding ratio of 1.35 results from direct exposure of the Li2O blanket to the fusion reactions. Vacuum pumping requirements of the chamber, using laser drivers at a pressure of 0.1 Torr, are a modest 4.7 m3/s for D-T and 3.1 m3/s for helium. Carbon-14 activation in the blanket is insignificant. It is concluded that that the Cascade concept offers an attractive option for a safe and efficient inertial fusion reaction chamber