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Safety and Environment

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Book cover Magnetic Fusion Technology

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Energy ((LNEN,volume 19))

Abstract

Tritium and tokamak dust are the main radioactive hazards of fusion reactors. Tritium emits a low-energy beta ray with a half-life of 12.3 years. It is hazardous if inhaled or ingested, but cannot penetrate the skin. The tritium inventory in the fuel system and walls should be well contained, minimized, and closely monitored, to keep the source term low in case of an accident. Neutron absorption will make reactor internal components radioactive, so their radioactivities will be minimized by design, with a goal of clearance or recycling most materials after a cooling period of 50–100 years. If many superconducting cables and coils are used in industry and in fusion reactors, shortages of materials such as He and Nb may occur. The ITER safety team is analyzing dozens of potential accident scenarios to prevent them or to mitigate their consequences, so that public safety will be assured without the need for an evacuation plan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NPRE Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA

    Thomas J. Dolan

  2. Idaho National Laboratory Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC, Idaho Falls, ID, USA

    Lee C. Cadwallader

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  1. Thomas J. Dolan
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  2. Lee C. Cadwallader
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Correspondence to Thomas J. Dolan .

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  1. NPRE Department, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA

    Thomas J. Dolan

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© 2013 Springer-Verlag London

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Dolan, T.J., Cadwallader, L.C. (2013). Safety and Environment. In: Dolan, T. (eds) Magnetic Fusion Technology. Lecture Notes in Energy, vol 19. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5556-0_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-5556-0_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4471-5555-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4471-5556-0

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