Physico-economical premises for the nuclear design of fissile breeding devices

Abstract

Physico-economical factors are the basis for guidelines in the nuclear design of emerging fissile breeding devices. In the present study 3 basic concepts are discussed: spallator, fusion-fission hybrid and the muon catalyzed fusion breeder. In all cases the expressions describing the income of a fissile breeder are given as functions of physical and technological system parameters. The dependence of the income on certain selected variables, others having been taken as parameters, is illustrated in a series of diagrams. An analysis of the obtained results indicates, among others, that: in all the above concepts high conversion ratios are desirable, thus making neutron slowing-down rather harmful; fast fissions in a spallator are advantageous; the plasma Q needs not be too high, but still should amount to ca. 5; the muon factory operating as a spallator is indispensable if the cold fusion (even with a rather optimistic efficiency) is to be economic.