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Helium-3 as a Perspective Fuel for Power Generation through Aneutronic Thermonuclear Fusion

  • MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES FOR NEW POWER SOURCES
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Abstract

The aneutronic D3–He (deuterium–helium-3) fuel cycle is considered as a viable alternative to D–T (deuterium–tritium) fusion since it is ecologically much safer than the latter. It is practically as safe as the aneutronic p–11B (proton–boron-11) reaction. The interest to aneutronic fuel cycles as perspective sources of thermonuclear energy is largely shown by privately-financed venture companies. The plasma-confinement techniques to be employed in planned D–3He thermonuclear reactors and their parameters are reviewed. The problem of helium-3 mining is discussed, and its terrestrial abundance is estimated. Possible applications of weakly-radioactive and aneutronic reactions and fuel cycles are considered.

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Funding

This study was supported in part by the Russian Ministry of Science and Higher Education under government order no. 0705-2020-0044.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bauman State Technical University, 105005, Moscow, Russia

    S. V. Ryzhkov

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  1. S. V. Ryzhkov
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Correspondence to S. V. Ryzhkov.

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Translated by A. Asratyan

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Ryzhkov, S.V. Helium-3 as a Perspective Fuel for Power Generation through Aneutronic Thermonuclear Fusion. Phys. Atom. Nuclei 83, 1434–1439 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063778820090227

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063778820090227

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