Fusion-Fission Hybrid Nuclear Reactors - (Energy Engineering) by Weston M Stacey (Hardcover)

About the Book

Written by a worldwide expert on nuclear energy, this book is a concise but thorough work on fusion-fission hybrid technology. Chapters review nuclear fission and fusion principles, then explore how to use surplus neutrons from fusion to assist with fission processes, and how to obtain the necessary deuterium and tritium.

Book Synopsis

Nuclear energy might contribute to a long-term solution to stave off climate change. But current nuclear fission technology accesses only about 1-3% of the nuclear energy content of natural uranium, thus is expensive, inefficient and creates a nuclear waste disposal problem that has no solution in reach.

Combination with emerging nuclear fusion in fusion-fission hybrid technology could yield neutrons to convert much more of the Uranium into fissionable material, thus increasing efficiency and reducing nuclear waste.

This work describes fusion-fission hybrid technology. Chapters briefly review nuclear fission principles and describe design and safety of advanced reactor types.

Then the fundamentals of nuclear fusion and fusion reactors are described, together with ongoing and future challenges and developments in this not-yet matured technology. Then chapters convey how to use surplus neutrons from the fusion to assist with the fission processes, and how to obtain needed deuterium and tritium.