Fusion blanket and method for producing directly fabricable fissile fuel
US4663110A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 21, 1985 |
| Grant date | May 5, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 21, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E30/30
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A fusion blanket includes a chamber wall, a multiplication section, an enrichment section and a reflector in radially outward succession, respectively. The chamber wall isolates the fusion reaction chamber from the remainder of the blanket. Fusion neutrons bombard atoms in the multiplication section to free further neutrons which are then available for breeding fuel. The enrichment section contains fertile fuel of sufficient dilution to maximize the enrichment rate and minimize fast fission. Materials may be included in the multiplication section and the enrichment section to reduce thermal neutron flux, thereby suppressing thermal fission. Additionally, tritium may be bred in both sections. The fertile material is exposed to neutron bombardment until the desired enrichment is achieved. The particles may be removed and mixed to minimize nonuniformities in enrichment. The particles may then be fabricated into fuel elements for fission reactors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.