Safety and Environment aspects of Tokamak- type Fusion Power Reactor- An Overview

10th Asia Plasma and Fusion Association Conference

Doshi, Bharat^1 ; Chenna Reddy, D.^1

Institute for Plasma Research, Near Indira Bridge, Bhat, Gandhinagar

382 428, India^1

关键词: Design considerations;    Deuterium-tritium fuels;    Deuterium-tritium plasmas;    Environmental concerns;    Fusion power reactors;    Low-activation structural materials;    Safety classification;    Sustainable energy sources;   

Others  :  https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/823/1/012044/pdf
DOI  :  10.1088/1742-6596/823/1/012044

来源: IOP

【 摘 要 】

Naturally occurring thermonuclear fusion reaction (of light atoms to form a heavier nucleus) in the sun and every star in the universe, releases incredible amounts of energy. Demonstrating the controlled and sustained reaction of deuterium-tritium plasma should enable the development of fusion as an energy source here on Earth. The promising fusion power reactors could be operated on the deuterium-tritium fuel cycle with fuel self-sufficiency. The potential impact of fusion power on the environment and the possible risks associated with operating large-scale fusion power plants is being studied by different countries. The results show that fusion can be a very safe and sustainable energy source. A fusion power plant possesses not only intrinsic advantages with respect to safety compared to other sources of energy, but also a negligible long term impact on the environment provided certain precautions are taken in its design. One of the important considerations is in the selection of low activation structural materials for reactor vessel. Selection of the materials for first wall and breeding blanket components is also important from safety issues. It is possible to fully benefit from the advantages of fusion energy if safety and environmental concerns are taken into account when considering the conceptual studies of a reactor design. The significant safety hazards are due to the tritium inventory and energetic neutron fluence induced activity in the reactor vessel, first wall components, blanket system etc. The potential of release of radioactivity under operational and accident conditions needs attention while designing the fusion reactor. Appropriate safety analysis for the quantification of the risk shall be done following different methods such as FFMEA (Functional Failure Modes and Effects Analysis) and HAZOP (Hazards and operability). Level of safety and safety classification such as nuclear safety and non-nuclear safety is very important for the FPR (Fusion Power Reactor). This paper describes an overview of safety and environmental merits of fusion power reactor, issues and design considerations and need for R&D on safety and environmental aspects of Tokamak type fusion reactor.