Fig 4 - uploaded by Glen A. Wurden
Content may be subject to copyright.
(Credit: Atomic Energy Commission) The NERVA rocket engine, a nuclear thermal third stage replacement for the Saturn V with twice the I sp of the J2 engine. It was never used in space
Source publication
Abstract: We argue that it is essential for the fusion energy program to identify an imagination-capturing critical mission by developing a unique product which could command the marketplace. We lay out the logic that this product is a fusion rocket engine, to enable a rapid response capable of deflecting an incoming comet, to prevent its impact on...
Similar publications
We argue that it is essential for the fusion energy program to identify an imagination-capturing critical mission by developing a unique product which could command the marketplace. We lay out the logic that this product is a fusion rocket engine, to enable a rapid response capable of deflecting an incoming comet, to prevent its impact on the plane...
Citations
... The most common method suggested to reduce neutron emission is to change the fuel mixture to D-3 He or p-11 B. We discount p-11 B. It is unlikely to produce net energy because of the high plasma temperature required, the low energy release per fusion event, and the reduction in reactive nuclei density (at fixed electron density) due to the high Z of the B. D-3 He fusion, Eqn. [2], does not have those shortcomings 7 but does promote neutron production through two routes: one channel of D-D fusion, Eqn. [3]; and fusion of the T "ash" created by the other D-D fusion channel, Eqn. ...
... Specifically, though D-3 He fusion, Eqn. [2], produces no direct neutrons, the co-existent D-D reactions do, via Eqn. [3] and, more importantly, the fusion of T ash, Eqn. ...
The mainstream efforts to generate electrical power via fusion, represented by the ITER and NIF projects, would use a deuterium-tritium (D-T) fuel mixture to produce energy; the neutrons therein generated would breed the needed tritium. Such approaches to fusion power are predicted to result in large, massive (> 500 mT), and high power (GW) reactors, ill suited for spacecraft missions envisaged for this century. We have been investigating a different fusion reactor concept based on an advanced-fuel (D-3 He), RF-heated, field-reversed configuration (FRC) and find that small, relatively low power (1-10 MW) reactors with high specific power are possible and are suitable for a variety of missions throughout the solar system and beyond. Herein we describe the methods to reduce neutron emission to below 1% of the fusion power, thereby reducing the thickness of shielding required to 20 cm and increasing the longevity of the components and the specific power.
