Fusion-fission hybrid for transmutation & energy production
- Reference number
- UKR24-0015
- Project leader
- Moiseyenko, Volodymyr
- Start and end dates
- 240501-250731
- Amount granted
- 1 000 000 SEK
- Administrative organization
- Uppsala University
- Research area
- Materials Science and Technology
Summary
The proposed study is aimed to contribute to the development of novel approach to nuclear power generation with substantially better usage of fuel and less nuclear waste production, more safe and non-proliferation-friendly. One of the concepts in such approach is the stellarator-mirror (SM) fusion-fission hybrid which consists in SM plasma device which serves as a fusion neutron source and fast fission subcritical reactor. The study will result in issue of renewed concept of the SM-hybrid and sketch for roadmap for its implementation. The proposed studies on the SM hybrid are focused on two specific problems. 1."Radio-frequency heating of hot minority ions. The radio-frequency heating could be a worthwhile substitution to the neutral beam injection which is initially planned for hybrids. It is more energy effective and simplifies designs of the SM and mirror hybrids. The study breakdown is the following. •"Analysis of numerical results and making choice of the antenna. •"Optimization of the scenario for the radio-frequency heating of hot ions. 2."Fuel cycle for SM and mirror hybrid. The fuel cycle for SM and mirror hybrids is not studied yet in detail although it is a key problem of the hybrid functioning. The study is the following. •"Formulation of proposals for optimum fuel cycles for SM hybrids. This study is a 1 year long continuation of 2.5 year previous study.
Popular science description
We here consider a subcritical system for nuclear energy production, the stellarator-mirror (SM) fusion –fission hybrid, for efficient burning of uranium-238 and all accompanying fissile isotopes produced by it during reactor operation. Such a system can be used for full utilization of spent nuclear fuel. Implementing such subcritical systems to the power plant fleet could move nuclear energy into a sustainable development track. The SM-hybrid provides 500 times more efficient fuel usage then widely used light water reactors. The principal (waste) output of it are fission products which after 300 years storage for reducing radioactivity become useful raw material. Subcritical systems have much higher safety margins. The nuclear fuel cycle considered does not include a separate stage of plutonium production. This is critically important for non-proliferation.