Fusion of Low Atomic Number, Wall Coating Materials in High-Temperature Plasmas

The fusion of common wall coating materials is considered in high-temperature plasmas. The concept is attractive since the detrimental effects of these materials as primary impurities are diminished. It is determined that fusion power densities can be increased by including the impurity reactions for a specified impurity content; however, this increase is more than offset by the corresponding decrease in power density due to primary fuel depletion. It is noted that impurity fusion reactions should be included in fuel cycle analyses since ash isotopes may impact the vacuum pumping technology of the reactor.