EXPLORATION AND ASSESSMENT OF DESIGN WINDOWS FOR A TOKAMAK-BASED VOLUMETRIC NEUTRON SOURCE

Design options for a Tokamak volumetric neutron source (VNS) for fusio n nuclear technology testing are explored using well-defined and consi stent sets of requirements and constraints. Optimum designs with a pea k value of the neutron wall load and minimum cost are obtained with in termediate-to-high aspect ratios of about 3.4-3.6. Sensitivity analysi s shows that the nuclear technology testing requirements can be achiev ed in a realistic Tokamak VNS design within the expected uncertainty r anges of the physics and engineering assumptions database. A typical o ptimum VNS design has an average neutron wall load of 1.5 MW m(-2), pe ak wall load of about 2 MW m(-2), major radius of about 1.6 m, minor r adius of about 0.5 m, aspect ratio of 3.6, fusion power of about 100 M W, plasma amplification factor Q approximate to 2 and on-axis magnetic held of about 7 T. Normal conducting magnets are used with an overall inboard shield thickness of 0.3 m.