D-3He Fuel Cycles for Neutron Lean Reactors^a

The intrinsic potential of D-3He as a reactor fuel is investigated for a large range of 3He to D density ratios. A steady-state zero-dimensional reactor model is developed in which much care is attributed to a proper treatment of fast fusion products. Useful ranges of reactor parameters as well as temperature-density windows for driven and ignited operation are identified. Various figures of merit are calculated, such as power densities, net power production, neutron production, tritium load and radiative power. These results suggest several optimistic conclusions about the performance of D-3He as a reactor fuel. ^aSupported by Fonds zur Foerderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung, Bundeswirtschaftskammer and Friedrich Schiedel-Stiftung, Austria, Internat. Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, and US DOE contract No. DEFG02-86ER52127. ^bPermanent address: Alternate Energy Physics Program, Institute for Theoretical Physics, Graz University of Technology, Austria