
doi: 10.2172/5047316
Results of a study to identify and develop a reference design for synfuel production based on fusion reactors are given. The most promising option for hydrogen production was high-temperature electrolysis (HTE). The main findings of this study are: 1. HTE has the highest potential efficiency for production of synfuels from fusion; a fusion to hydrogen energy efficiency of about 70% appears possible with 1800/sup 0/C HTE units and 60% power cycle efficiency; an efficiency of about 50% possible with 1400/sup 0/C HTE units and 40% power cycle efficiency. 2. Relative to thermochemical or direct decomposition methods HTE technology is in a more advanced state of development, 3. Thermochemical or direct decomposition methods must have lower unit process or capital costs if they are to be more attractive than HTE. 4. While design efforts are required, HTE units offer the potential to be quickly run in reverse as fuel cells to produce electricity for restart of Tokamaks and/or provide spinning reserve for a grid system. 5. Because of the short timescale of the study, no detailed economic evaluation could be carried out.A comparison of costs could be made by employing certain assumptions. For example, if the fusion reactor-electrolyzer capital installation is $400/(KW(T) ($1000/KW(E) equivalent), the H/sub 2/ energy production cost for a high efficiency (about 70 %) fusion-HTE system is on the same order of magnitude as a coal based SNG plant based on 1976 dollars. 6. The present reference design indicates that a 2000 MW(th) fusion reactor could produce as much at 364 x 10/sup 6/ scf/day of hydrogen which is equivalent in heating value to 20,000 barrels/day of gasoline. This would fuel about 500,000 autos based on average driving patterns. 7. A factor of three reduction in coal feed (tons/day) could be achieved for syngas production if hydrogen from a fusion-HTE system were used to gasify coal, as compared to a conventional syngas plant using coal-derived hydrogen.
Fluids, High Temperature, Economics, Cryogenic Fluids, Production, Water, Hydrogen Production, 060300 -- Fusion Fuels-- By-Products-- (-1987), Thermonuclear Reactors, Elements, Electrolysis, Uses, Oxygen, Oxygen Compounds 080101* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Electrolysis, Nonmetals, Lysis, 08 Hydrogen, Flowsheets, 70 Plasma Physics And Fusion Technology, Hydrogen Compounds, Diagrams
Fluids, High Temperature, Economics, Cryogenic Fluids, Production, Water, Hydrogen Production, 060300 -- Fusion Fuels-- By-Products-- (-1987), Thermonuclear Reactors, Elements, Electrolysis, Uses, Oxygen, Oxygen Compounds 080101* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Electrolysis, Nonmetals, Lysis, 08 Hydrogen, Flowsheets, 70 Plasma Physics And Fusion Technology, Hydrogen Compounds, Diagrams
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 2 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
