Employing of ZrCo as a fuel source in a discharge-type fusion neutron source operated in self-sufficient mode

A discharge-type fusion neutron source generates neutrons by fusion reactions of hydrogen isotope atoms. In order to operate the fusion device based on the deuterium -tritium (D-T) fusion reaction, the tritium inventory is required to be decreased. In the present work, a self-sufficient system was installed into the fusion device for reducing the amount of hydrogen isotope fuel gas. The fuel gas was supplied and recovered with an intermetallic compound ZrCo in a sealed chamber in this system. A deuterium-deuterium operation was maintained for more than 60 min with stable discharge voltages, and the temperature of the ZrCo bed was changed to improve the neutron production rate. Factors that influenced the pressure inside the chamber were determined and optimized. Gas analysis using a quadrupole mass spectrometer indicates a dilution of the deuterium fuel was caused by hydrogen isotope exchange between the supplied deuterium gas and the absorbed protium on the chamber and electrodes surface. This system's hydrogen isotope control method and the amount of fuel were proposed for a D-T operation. (c) 2021 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study installed a self-sufficient system into the fusion device to reduce the amount of hydrogen isotope fuel gas, with stable discharge voltages maintained during a deuterium-deuterium operation for over 60 minutes. Gas analysis reveals dilution of deuterium fuel due to exchange with absorbed protium, proposing a hydrogen isotope control method and fuel amount for D-T operation.