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Tandem Mirror Reactor Power Balance Studies

G. E. Gorker, L. J. Perkins

Fusion Science and Technology / Volume 8 / Number 1P2A / July 1985 / Pages 332-337

Power Reactor and Next-Generation Studies / Proceedings of the Sixth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (San Francisco, California, March 3-7, 1985) / dx.doi.org/10.13182/FST85-A40066

A tandem mirror reactor (TMR) power plant balance model has been developed and is now being used as a computer aid for performing parametric studies. End-cell power injection into the plasma and the physics plasma Q are used to determine the fusion power. About 80% of the fusion power is transferred by high-energy neutrons to the blanket modules and structures. The other 20% of the fusion power in the high-energy alpha particles is used to heat the deuterium-tritium (D-T) plasma. Most of the plasma-ionized particles transfer their energy to the halo dumps and direct converters. The plant efficiency is calculated for three different system cycles: (1) the pressurized water/saturated steam cycle, (2) the superheated steam cycle, and (3) the more complex superheat/reheat cycle. There is a significant improvement in plant efficiency as the electrical power multiplication factor and steam cycle efficiency increases.