Prospects for Development of Fusion-Fission Hybrid Reactor (FFHR) in Korea

A fusion-fission hybrid reactor (FFHR) is a fusion reactor surrounded by a fission blanket, containing the Thorium, Uranium, and TRU elements, to increase output power, to breed fissile fuels, and to incinerate (transmute) radioactive materials. The technological experience and challenge for the operation of experimental fusion reactors, such as KSTAR and ITER, could be a background knowledge of fusion driver for the FFHRs in Korea. Furthermore, the commercial fission reactors, such as PWR and HWR, are being operated successfully during more than 40 years in Korea. The development requirement of FFHR in Korea, suggested strongly in this article, can speed up the time for producing energy because of the potential attractiveness of good safety performance and plenty of fuel and easing the requirement of fusion plasma technology (with a low fusion gain Q) and plasmafacing material technology (with a low neutron wall loading).