Effects of spectral shifting in an inertial confinement fusion system

The main objective is to study the effects of spectral shifting in an inertial confinement system for kT/shot energy regime on the breeding performance for tritium and for high quality fissile fuel. A protective liquid droplet jet zone of 2 m thickness is used as coolant, energy carrier, and breeder. Flibe as the main constituent is mixed with increased mole-fractions of heavy metal salt (ThF4 or UF4) starting by 2 moles% up to 12 moles%. Spectrum softening within the inertial confinement system reduces the tritium production ratio (TBR) in the protective coolant to a lower level than unity. However, additional tritium production in the 6Li 2DT zone of the system increases TBR to values above unity and allows a continuous operation of the power plant with a self-sustained fusion fuel supply. By modest fusion fuel burn efficiencies (40 to 60%) and with a few mol.% of heavy metal salt in the coolant in form of ThF4 or % UF 4, a satisfactory TBR of > 1.05 can be realized. In addition to that, excess fissile fuel of extremely high isotopic purity with a rate of ~1000 kg/year of 233U or 239Pu can be produced. Radiation damage through atomic displacements and helium gas production after a plant operation period of 30 years is very low, namely dpa <1 and He <2 ppm, respectively. © Carl Hanser Verlag, München.