Tritium resources available for fusion reactors

Abstract

The tritium required for ITER will be supplied from the CANDU production in Ontario, but while Ontario may be able to supply 8 kg for a DEMO fusion reactor in the mid-2050s, it will not be able to provide 10 kg at any realistic starting time. The tritium required to start DEMO will depend on advances in plasma fuelling efficiency, burnup fraction, and tritium processing technology. It is in theory possible to start up a fusion reactor with little or no tritium, but at an estimated cost of $2 billion per kilogram of tritium saved, it is not economically sensible. Some heavy water reactor tritium production scenarios with varying degrees of optimism are presented, with the assumption that only Canada, the Republic of Korea, and Romania make tritium available to the fusion community. Results for the tritium available for DEMO in 2055 range from zero to 30 kg. CANDU and similar heavy water reactors could in theory generate additional tritium in a number of ways: (a) adjuster rods containing lithium could be used, giving 0.13 kg per year per reactor; (b) a fuel bundle with a burnable absorber has been designed for CANDU reactors, which might be adapted for tritium production; (c) tritium production could be increased by 0.05 kg per year per reactor by doping the moderator with lithium-6. If a fusion reactor is started up around 2055, governments in Canada, Argentina, China, India, South Korea and Romania will have the opportunity in the years leading up to that to take appropriate steps: (a) build, refurbish or upgrade tritium extraction facilities; (b) extend the lives of heavy water reactors, or build new ones; (c) reduce tritium sales; (d) boost tritium production in the remaining heavy water reactors. All of the alternative production methods considered have serious economic and regulatory drawbacks, and the risk of diversion of tritium or lithium-6 would also be a major concern. There are likely to be serious problems with supplying tritium for future fusion reactors.

Insights into fuel start‐up and self‐sufficiency for fusion energy: The case of CFETR

“…15 A solution named DD start-up that fusion reactor could be started up only fueling with initial deuterium was proposed. 15 A solution named DD start-up that fusion reactor could be started up only fueling with initial deuterium was proposed.…”

“…China proposed a concept of Chinese Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR), 8,9 the USA proposed a concept of Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF). 15 Currently, most of the commercial tritium are from CANadian Deuterium Uranium reactors (CANDU) of Canada and Korea where Tritium Removal Facilities (TRF) are being operated. EU-DEMO, K-DEMO were proposed by Europe and Korea, respectively.…”

“…10 The others are to build a DEMOnstration fusion reactor (DEMO) with over 1500 MW fusion power to produce electricity directly. [15][16][17] Thus, start-up and tritium self-sufficiency is critical important for an economical fusion energy. 11,12 Deuterium and tritium have been regarded as the fuels for the above-mentioned fusion reactors because DT fusion reaction requires the lowest fusion triple product to achieve energy self-sustaining among various fuels fusion reaction.…”

“…Tritium price of Heavy Water Reactor (HWR) production is relative low compared with other tritium production pathways of accelerator and light water reactors. 15 Currently, most of the commercial tritium are from CANadian Deuterium Uranium reactors (CANDU) of Canada and Korea where Tritium Removal Facilities (TRF) are being operated. India has also positive plans to build CANDU reactors and may be the promising country with a high tritium generation rate if operating the TRF in the future.…”

“…Both our early study and recent studies evaluated the worldwide tritium resources available for fusion reactors and showed the worldwide tritium generated from CANDU reactors may be insufficient for start-up, let alone as burning fuels for next fusion reactors. [15][16][17] Thus, start-up and tritium self-sufficiency is critical important for an economical fusion energy.…”