Fusion neutron source for fission applications
OwnerMichael T. Kotschenreuther, Swadesh M. Mahajan +1inventors
InventorsMichael T. Kotschenreuther, Swadesh M. Mahajan, Prashant M. Valanju
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Abstract
Disclosed are a hybrid reactor, method, and device for improved nuclear fusion reactors to provide sufficient flux of fast neutrons with sufficient energy to transmutate transuranic wastes from nuclear fission and to be used in improved nuclear fuel cycles so as to effectively reduce the amount radio-toxicity, and the risks and costs of the disposal of nuclear waste, thereby reducing the cost of nuclear energy and increasing its acceptability as an energy source. This abstract is intended for use as a scanning tool only and is not intended to be limiting.
Claims43
A hybrid reactor for reducing nuclear waste, comprising:
- a first chamber enclosed by walls about a central axis, wherein said first chamber has an outer radius of four meters or less relative to the central axis;
- said first chamber encloses a high power density neutron source which produces a total neutron power equal to about 0.1 megawatts per meter squared per second or higher, crossing the surface of the high power density neutron source;
- a second chamber enclosing one or more layers of fissionable materials substantially adjacent to at least a portion of said first chamber, said second chamber also enclosing neutron-absorbing and neutron-reflecting materials;
- wherein neutrons provided to said fissionable materials from said high power density neutron source increase nuclear fission reactions in said fissionable materials.
A method of reducing nuclear waste, comprising:
- providing a first chamber enclosed by walls about a central axis;
- wherein said first chamber has an outer radius of about four meters or less relative to the central axis;
- containing, inside said first chamber, a high power density neutron source with a total power of about 0.1 megawatts per meter squared per second, or higher, of neutrons crossing a surface of the high power density neutron source;
- placing, in a second chamber, one or more layers of fissionable materials substantially adjacent to at least a portion of said first chamber, and placing neutron-absorbing and neutron-reflecting materials in said second chamber so that neutrons from the high power density neutron source increase nuclear fission reactions in said fissionable materials.
The device of claim 34, wherein said high power density neutron source is a compact fusion neutron source, said compact fusion neutron source having a toroidal fusion plasma and at least one divertor plate that has an outboard divertor major radius that is greater than a sum of a fusion plasma minor radius and a major radius of a peak point closest to the corresponding divertor plate.
A device for reducing nuclear waste comprising:
- a first chamber enclosed by walls about a central axis, wherein said first chamber has an outer radius of about four meters or less relative to the central axis;
- said first chamber encloses a high power density neutron source that produces a total neutron power equal to about 0.1 megawatts per meter squared per second or higher, crossing a surface of the high power density neutron source;
- a second chamber enclosing one or more layers of fissionable materials substantially adjacent to at least a portion of the said first chamber, said second chamber also enclosing neutron-absorbing and neutron-reflecting materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.