Power generation system using two models for an inertial confinement fusion reactor

Abstract

In this study, the series cooling model and the parallel cooling model of inertial confinement fusion reactor were used as a heat source for driving the MHD/Gas Turbine combined power generation system. This reactor is designed with the first wall and the blanket, which are used to collect the products of fusion reactions (including X-ray, charged particles, and neutrons) and to convert the fusion energy into thermal energy. In the series cooling model, the coolant after being heated in the blanket is re-heated again in the first wall, therefore, > 2000 K working gas can be obtained. In the parallel cooling model, 1300-1700 K working gas was extracted from the blanket for driving the Gas Turbine cycle and high temperature 2000-2400 K working gas can be extracted from the first wall for driving the MHD cycle. The system using the series cooling model reached a highest plant efficiency of 58.34 per cent whereas the system using the parallel cooling model reached a highest plant efficiency of 57.49 per cent. It was found that the enthalpy extraction and the first wall output temperature both affected the fusion output power, therefore, the plant efficiency was greatly affected by these factors. With the increase of reactor output temperature, the plant efficiency increased, however, because of the temperature limitation of the Gas Turbine and blanket, an output temperature > 2400 K from reactor cannot be used.