Deuterium-based plasmas as a source for helium-3
Creators
- 1. Univ. of Illinois, Fusion Studies Laboratory, Nuclear Engineering Program, Urbana, IL
Description
The maximum fraction of 3He recoverable from deuterium-based plasmas (to fuel D-3He fusion reactors) is investigated, and optimal plasma conditions are identified. The upper bound to the fraction of 3He recoverable from ignited plasmas is ca.80%, corresponding to one 3He atom per 50 MeV of fusion energy, but recovery efficiency is very sensitive to the plasma energy balance. Effects of enhanced radiation losses, tritium assistance, ion/electron temperature split, plasma temperature and density profiles, and external plasma heating are examined. It appears possible to recover ca. 70% of the 3He produced in realistic driven semi-catalyzed deuterium (SCD) plasmas, at 70 MeV per atom. This suggests interesting possibilities for the symbiosis of SCD synfuel factories with satellite D-3He reactors for the generation of electricity
Additional details
Publishing Information
- Journal Title
- Nucl. Technol./Fusion
- Journal Volume
- 2
- Journal Issue
- 1
- Series
- Nucl. Technol./Fusion.
- Journal Page Range
- 43-54
- ISSN
- 0272-3921
INIS
- Country of Publication
- United States
- Country of Input or Organization
- United States
- INIS RN
- 15015221
- Subject category
- S70: PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY;
- Descriptors DEI
- DEUTERIUM; HELIUM 3; MEV RANGE; OPTIMIZATION; PLASMA; PLASMA DENSITY; PLASMA HEATING; SEPARATION PROCESSES; TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT; THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS
- Descriptors DEC
- ENERGY RANGE; EVEN-ODD NUCLEI; HEATING; HELIUM ISOTOPES; HYDROGEN ISOTOPES; ISOTOPES; LIGHT NUCLEI; NUCLEI; ODD-ODD NUCLEI; STABLE ISOTOPES