Present status of fusion researches in USA, (2). Fusion reactor studies at Argonne National Laboratory

The research on the nuclear fusion reactors based on the magnetic field containment method in USA is fundamentally concentrated on two representative types, that is, takamak type torus method and tandem mirror type open end method. The research on nuclear fusion reactors in the ANL has been performed solely on the tokamak type reactors, and emphasis has been placed on the nuclear design of the reactors. The ANL is composed of the main site and the Idaho site, and it has been operated by the University of Chicago for the Department of Energy. About 4200 persons work, and the yearly budget is 230 million dollars. The Fusion Power Program is in the main site, and the staffs of about 80 engage in it. It is operated with the yearly budget of about 7.2 million dollars. The research activities are roughly classified into five fields, that is, the system analysis and design of nuclear fusion reactors, blanket and shield engineering, the properties of materials, superconducting magnets and energy storage, and the interaction with universities and industries. The researches on the STARFIRE reactor, the alternate fuel cycle, the radioactivation of nuclear fusion reactors, FW/B/S program, and the comparison and selection of blankets are reported. (Kako, I.)