System Studies of Commercial Tokamak Reactors with Resistive Magnets

Scoping studies were performed to evaluate the potential of resistive magnet tokamaks for commercial electricity producing applications. Attractive options have been identified which are characterized by moderate wall loading, low field, moderate recirculating power, moderate to high toroidal β, compact nuclear islands and costs competitive with those of comparable superconducting options. Resistive magnet commercial tokamaks operating in the second region of stability in β appear particularly attractive. Several methods are investigated here for achieving second stability, including hot electron and hot ion stabilization of the MHD modes during start-up.