OVERVIEW OF SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL-ISSUES FOR INERTIAL FUSION ENERGY

This paper summarizes safety and environmental issues of Inertial Fusi on Energy (IFE): inventories, effluents, maintenance, accident safety, waste management, and recycling. The fusion confinement approach amon g inertial and magnetic options affects how the fusion reaction is mai ntained and which materials surround the reaction chamber. The target fill technology has a major impact on the target factory tritium inven tory. IFE fusion reaction chambers usually employ some means to protec t the first structural wall from fusion pulses. This protective fluid or granular bed also moderates and absorbs most neutrons before they r each the first structural wall. Although the protective fluid activate s, most candidate fluids have low activation hazard. Hands-on maintena nce seems practical for the driver, target factory, and secondary cool ant systems; remote maintenance is likely required for the reaction ch amber, primary coolant, and vacuum exhaust cleanup systems. The driver and fuel target facility are well separated from the main reaction ch amber.