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Nuclear Energy Conference & Expo (NECX)
September 8–11, 2025
Atlanta, GA|Atlanta Marriott Marquis
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Deep Space: The new frontier of radiation controls
In commercial nuclear power, there has always been a deliberate tension between the regulator and the utility owner. The regulator fundamentally exists to protect the worker, and the utility, to make a profit. It is a win-win balance.
From the U.S. nuclear industry has emerged a brilliantly successful occupational nuclear safety record—largely the result of an ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) process that has driven exposure rates down to what only a decade ago would have been considered unthinkable. In the U.S. nuclear industry, the system has accomplished an excellent, nearly seamless process that succeeds to the benefit of both employee and utility owner.
Sümer Şahi̇n, Ralph W. Moir, Joseph D. Lee, Sabahattin Ünalan
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 25 | Number 4 | July 1994 | Pages 388-397
Technical Paper | Blanket Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST94-A30245
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The tritium breeding and energy absorption in an inertial fusion energy (IFE) reactor chamber have been investigated with variable coolant zone thickness using different materials. Examples are given for HYLIFE-II (an IFE reactor design) and for magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) energy conversion chambers using Flibe (Li2BeF4) as coolant. Investigations related to MHD are extended to the use of LiH, lithium, and Lil7-Pb83 eutectic as working fluid. Natural lithium is used in all cases, except in the case of LiPb, for which both natural and enriched options were calculated. To achieve a useful energy density for energy conversion purposes with a sufficient tritium breeding ratio (TBR = 1.1 to 1.2), coolant zone thicknesses must be 25 cm for LiH, 50 to 60 cm for Flibe, and 80 cm for lithium. The use of Lil7-Pb83 with natural lithium and with lithium enriched to 90% 6Li requires coolant zone thicknesses of 120 and 60 cm, respectively, to obtain a tritium breeding of TBR = 1.1, which gives an extremely low energy deposition density. This low density and the large coolant mass make LiPb unattractive for MHD and HYLIFE-II applications.
