Page 19 - Fundamentals of Magnetic Thermonuclear Reactor Design

Chapter 1

Engineering and Physical

Principles of the Magnetic

Fusion Reactor Operation

Vasilij A. Glukhikh
JSC D.V. Efremov Scientific Research Institute of Electrophysical Apparatus,
Saint Petersburg, Russia

Chapter Outline
1.1 Introduction 1 1.3 Basic Correlations 3
1.2 Physical Basis of Fusion References 5
Power Engineering 2

1.1 INTRODUCTION

The basis for fusion power engineering is nuclear fusion, which occurs when
two deuterium, tritium and helium-3 nuclei collide and fuse together. The fol-
lowing fusion reactions are of practical significance:
(
+
1. DD → ( T 1.01 MeV ) + p 3.03 MeV ) D+D→T1.01 MeV+P3.03 MeV
3
+
2. DD → He (0.82 MeV )+ n (2.45 MeV ) D + D →
+→ He
3. DT 4 (3.52 MeV )+ n (14.06 MeV ) D He30.82 MeV+n2.45 MeV →
+
T
4
3
4. D + He → He (3.67 MeV ) + p (14.67 MeV ) D He43.52 MeV+n14.06 MeV →
+
3
e
H
He43.67 MeV+P14.67 MeV
The full cycle of nuclear conversions within the initial deuterium plasma can
be described as
4
+
2
6D → 2He2 + n 43.3 MeV 6D→ He+2p+2n+43.3 MeV
+ p
24
The potential power of nuclear fusion reactions is millions of times greater
than that of chemical reactions.
Deuterium and protium are found in water, their ratio being 1:6500. We
can tally the “nuclear energy” content of 1 L of water: it equals the energy re-
leased by burning 400 L of gasoline! Trace amounts of tritium are continuously
Fundamentals of Magnetic Thermonuclear Reactor Design. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-08-102470-6.00001-9
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