Nuclear fusion method and blanket structure

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a nuclear fusion method and a blanket structure capable of simplifying a structure of a blanket.SOLUTION: The nuclear fusion method includes introducing helium-3 (3He) gas into a nuclear fusion blanket from the outside to produce tritium gas.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to nuclear fusion methods and blanket structures. [Background technology]

[0002] Fusion power generation is known, in which plasma between deuterium gas and tritium gas is generated in a reactor core, causing a nuclear fusion reaction, and using the energy generated to generate electricity. In fusion power generation, it is desirable to stably supply processed gas containing tritium gas to the reactor core to generate electricity stably. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 7-151879 [Patent Document 2] Special Publication No. 2024-505086 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] To ensure a stable supply of tritium-containing process gas, it is conceivable to use lithium as a tritium breeding material in the blanket. In this case, in order to continuously generate electricity, the blanket would need to be equipped with a mechanism for continuously supplying the lithium-containing liquid into the blanket, as well as a mechanism for shielding the lithium-containing liquid from the atmosphere and a mechanism for cooling the lithium-containing liquid, which would tend to make the blanket structure complex.

[0005] The present disclosure provides a nuclear fusion method and blanket structure that can simplify the blanket structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The nuclear fusion method according to the present disclosure includes the step of adding Helium 3( 3This involves introducing tritium gas from outside. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] The nuclear fusion method according to the present disclosure allows for a simplified blanket structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system for performing a nuclear fusion method according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of a system for performing a nuclear fusion method according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a reaction between a heat-generating material and hydrogen in an NHFE furnace according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] 1A and 1B are diagrams showing reactions occurring in a nuclear fusion method according to an embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the operation of a system for performing a nuclear fusion method according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] 1 is a flowchart showing a nuclear fusion method according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a detailed configuration of an NHFE furnace according to an embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a nuclear fusion method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (Embodiment) In the nuclear fusion method according to the embodiment, plasma of deuterium gas and tritium gas is generated in the reactor core, causing a nuclear fusion reaction, and the energy generated is used to generate electricity, but the method is devised to stably supply the processing gas containing tritium gas to the reactor core.

[0011] In this specification, deuterium is sometimes referred to as D (Deuterium), and tritium is sometimes referred to as T (Teritium).

[0012] The nuclear fusion method may be performed in a system 1 as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a system that performs the nuclear fusion method.

[0013] The system 1 includes a New Hydrogen Fusion Energy (NHFE) reactor 100 and a Deuterium Teritium (DT) fusion reactor 200.

[0014] The NHFE furnace 100 uses the heat-generating material HGM and hydrogen ( 1 H), causing an exothermic reaction and producing helium3( 3 This allows the NHFE reactor 100 to continuously generate and supply process gas containing 3He gas to the DT fusion reactor 200.

[0015] The processing gas supplied from the NHFE reactor 100 to the DT fusion reactor 200 is composed of 3He gas and 4He ( 4 The processing gas may be a mixed gas of 3He gas and other gases.

[0016] As shown in FIG. 2, the NHFE reactor 100 has a core 101 and a hydrogen supply unit 102. The core 101 is provided with a heat-generating material HGM. The hydrogen supply unit 102 stores a reactive gas containing proton gas. The hydrogen supply unit 102 supplies the reactive gas into the core 101. As a result, the NHFE reactor 100 can cause the heat-generating material HGM and proton in the core 101 to react with each other, causing an exothermic reaction and generating helium-3 gas and energy.

[0017] For example, the heat-generating material HGM may be a material capable of generating an abnormal heat generation phenomenon based on the TSC (Tetrahedral Symmetric Condensate) theory. The heat-generating material HGM may contain a metal and have the property of absorbing hydrogen. More specifically, the heat-generating material HGM may be a single-element metal material, or a composite metal material such as a two-element metal material or a multi-component metal material. The metal contained in the heat-generating material HGM may be, for example, copper (Cu), palladium (Pd), nickel (Ni), etc.

[0018] The metals contained in the heat-generating material HGM can have a lattice structure such as a face-centered cubic lattice or a body-centered cubic lattice. When the heat-generating material HGM is a composite metal material containing multiple types of metals, it may have a core-shell structure in which one of these metals forms the core and the others form the shell. In this way, when the composite metal material has a core-shell structure, the core metal in the composite metal material can have a lattice structure.

[0019] The heat-generating material HGM is preferably in the form of nanoparticles, nanomultilayer films, nanowires, or other nano-sized particles. Here, nano-sized particles are, for example, 2 nm to 1000 nm, preferably 2 nm to 50 nm, more preferably 2 nm to 20 nm, and even more preferably 2 nm to 10 nm. The heat-generating material HGM may also contain ceramics such as zirconia (ZrO2) that support these nanoparticles.

[0020] Sub-nanoholes exist on the surface of the heat generating material HGM. When the metal lattice in the heat generating material HGM has a face-centered cubic crystal structure, the heat generating material HGM has unoccupied nanosites such as O-sites (octadecyl sites), as shown in Figure 3(a). Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining the reaction between the heat generating material HGM and hydrogen in the NHFE furnace 100.

[0021] Heat generating material HGM to hydrogen ( 1When a reactive gas containing H is supplied, it is thought that the protons are captured in the subnanoholes on the surface of the crystal structure, dissociate into protons, and enter the metal lattice, occupying the O-sites of the metal lattice.

[0022] The lattice arrangement in the area enclosed by the dotted line in Fig. 3(a) can be simplified as shown in Fig. 3(b). When the four O-sites corresponding to the vertices of the first regular tetrahedron are filled with protons and the four metal M lattice sites corresponding to the vertices of the second regular tetrahedron, which is point-symmetric with respect to the first regular tetrahedron and the T-site, are substantially filled with electrons, each elementary particle is strongly attracted toward the T-site by the Coulomb force.

[0023] When electrons and protons condense at the T-site, the density at which they can exist decreases and the amount of vibrational energy increases. The condensation and vibration bring the protons and electrons extremely close to each other, and one of the four protons can absorb an electron and become a neutron. Nuclear fusion occurs immediately due to the strong interaction of the pion, and the exothermic reaction shown in Figures 4 and 5 occurs at the T-site, producing helium 3( 3 He) gas, protons, and energy E1 are generated. Energy E1 may be, for example, 7.7 MeV. Figure 4 shows the reactions that occur in the nuclear fusion method. Figure 5 shows the operation of a system that performs the nuclear fusion method, and indicates at which configuration of the system the reactions occur.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the NHFE reactor 100 supplies a process gas containing helium-3 gas from a reactor core 101 to a DT fusion reactor 200.

[0025] The DT fusion reactor 200 receives the process gas containing helium-3 gas from the NHFE reactor 100 and uses the process gas to produce tritium ( 3 H) gas is generated. This allows the DT fusion reactor 200 to continuously generate tritium gas without using a tritium breeding material such as lithium.

[0026] In other words, a blanket for nuclear fusion can be constructed without providing a mechanism for continuously supplying a liquid containing lithium into the blanket, a mechanism for shielding the liquid containing lithium from the atmosphere, or a mechanism for cooling the liquid containing lithium, and the structure of the blanket can be easily simplified.

[0027] Tritium gas is continuously supplied to the DT fusion reactor 200. The DT fusion reactor 200 reacts deuterium gas with tritium gas to cause a DT fusion reaction, which generates helium-4 gas and energetic neutrons. This allows the DT fusion reactor 200 to continuously generate energy and generate electricity, which can be supplied to the grid 300.

[0028] 2, the DT fusion reactor 200 has a reactor core 201, a blanket structure 202, a deuterium supply unit 203, and a controller 210. The blanket structure 202 has a blanket 204, an introduction mechanism 205, a recovery mechanism 206, a separation mechanism 207, and a mixing mechanism 208.

[0029] The controller 210 controls each part of the DT fusion reactor 200 in an integrated manner.

[0030] The introducing mechanism 205 receives the process gas containing 3He gas from the NHFE furnace 100. The introducing mechanism 205 introduces the process gas containing 3He gas into the blanket 204 under the control of the controller 210. The introducing mechanism 205 may introduce the process gas containing 3He gas into the first space 2041 in the blanket 204.

[0031] The blanket 204 is a blanket for nuclear fusion. The blanket 204 is heated by Helium 3( 3 The system includes a structure for generating tritium gas using a process gas including tritium (He) gas.

[0032] The blanket 204 has a first space 2041, a second space 2042, and a member 2043. The first space 2041 and the second space 2042 may be adjacent to each other. The second space 2042 may be arranged around the first space 2041, or the first space 2041 may be arranged around the second space 2042. The member 2043 may be arranged near the first space 2041 and / or the second space 2042. The member 2043 may cover the core 201 from the outside. The first space 2041 may cover the core 201 from the outside via the member 2043. The second space 2042 may cover the core 201 from the outside via the member 2043.

[0033] A process gas containing 3He gas is introduced into the first space 2041 from the NHFE furnace 100 via an introduction mechanism 205. The first space 2041 may be a static space formed by a tank or the like, or a dynamic space formed by piping or the like. If the first space 2041 is a static space, it may store the process gas containing 3He gas that is introduced. If the first space 2041 is a dynamic space, it may circulate or circulate the introduced process gas containing 3He gas in the blanket 204.

[0034] In this specification, "circulation" refers to flowing around the pipe one revolution or less, and "circulation" refers to flowing around the pipe multiple revolutions.

[0035] The first space 2041 generates tritium gas using a process gas containing introduced helium-3 gas. The first space 2041 receives neutrons from the member 2043 via the second space 2042. In the first space 2041, the helium-3 gas reacts with the neutrons, causing a T multiplication reaction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, generating T (tritium) gas, protons, and energy E2. The energy E2 may be 0.764 MeV. As a result, tritium gas is generated in the first space 2041.

[0036] Water is introduced into the second space 2042. The second space 2042 may be a static space formed by a tank or the like, or may be a dynamic space formed by piping or the like. If the second space 2042 is a static space, the introduced water may be stored therein. If the second space 2042 is a dynamic space, the introduced water may be circulated or circulated within the blanket 204.

[0037] This allows the second space 2042 to cool the reactor core 201. At the same time, the second space 2042 receives neutrons containing most of the energy (e.g., 80%) generated in the reactor core 201, slows down the neutrons, and converts the energy contained in the neutrons into thermal energy, which is then absorbed into water.

[0038] The member 2043 is formed of a material MT whose main component is at least one of beryllium, lead, and bismuth. The member 2043 breeds neutrons in the material MT. The member 2043 may receive neutrons directly from the core 201 or may receive neutrons from the core 201 via the second space 2042. The member 2043 causes the neutrons to react with the material MT, generating a neutron breeding reaction as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, generating K1 neutrons, helium-4 gas or an isotope MT' of the material MT, and energy E3. In the reaction formula in FIG. 4, K1 and K2 are each an integer greater than or equal to 2. As a result, the member 2043 breeds one neutron into K1 neutrons.

[0039] The recovery mechanism 206 recovers the energy generated by nuclear fusion using the water in the second space 2042 under the control of the controller 210. The recovery mechanism 206 may be a pressurized steam turbo-generator. The recovery mechanism 206 converts the thermal energy into electrical energy, for example, by using the water containing thermal energy or its steam to rotate a turbine and generate electricity. The recovery mechanism 206 sends the electrical energy to the grid 300.

[0040] The separation mechanism 207 separates the tritium gas generated in the first space 2041 from the process gas under the control of the controller 210. The separation mechanism 207 receives the process gas from the first space 2041.

[0041] The processing gas supplied from the first space 2041 to the separation mechanism 207 may be a mixture of helium-3 gas and tritium gas. The processing gas may be a mixture of helium-3 gas, tritium gas, and helium-4 gas. The processing gas may be a mixture of helium-3 gas, tritium gas, and argon gas. The processing gas may be a mixture of helium-3 gas, tritium gas, and nitrogen gas. The processing gas may be a mixture of helium-3 gas, tritium gas, helium-4 gas, and argon gas. The processing gas may be a mixture of helium-3 gas, tritium gas, helium-4 gas, and nitrogen gas. The processing gas may be a mixture of helium-3 gas, tritium gas, helium-4 gas, and nitrogen gas. The processing gas may be a mixture of helium-3 gas, tritium gas, helium-4 gas, and other gases.

[0042] The separation mechanism 207 separates tritium gas from the processing gas. The separation mechanism 207 may further purify the separated tritium gas. The separation mechanism 207 supplies the separated and purified tritium gas to the mixing mechanism 208 and returns the separated and purified processing gas to the first space 2041.

[0043] The mixing mechanism 208 receives deuterium gas from the deuterium supply unit 203 and tritium gas from the separation mechanism 207. The mixing mechanism 208 mixes the deuterium gas and the tritium gas under the control of the controller 210. The mixing mechanism 208 supplies the mixed gas of the deuterium gas and the tritium gas into the reactor core 201.

[0044] The reactor core 201 receives a mixture of deuterium gas and tritium gas from the mixing mechanism 208. Under the control of the controller 210, the reactor core 201 reacts the deuterium gas with the tritium gas to cause a DT fusion reaction as shown in FIG. 4, generating helium-4 gas and neutrons containing energy E4. The energy E4 may be 14 MeV. The energy E4 may represent a majority (e.g., 80%) of the energy generated in the reactor core 201.

[0045] Next, the nuclear fusion method will be described with reference to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a flowchart showing the nuclear fusion method.

[0046] In the nuclear fusion method shown in FIG. 6, the processes of S1 to S7 in the NHFE reactor 100 and the processes of S11 to S18 in the DT nuclear fusion reactor 200 are carried out in parallel.

[0047] In the NHFE furnace 100, the heat generating material HGM is prepared (S1). Once the heat generating material HGM is prepared, it is carried into the NHFE furnace 100 as shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the detailed configuration of the NHFE furnace 100.

[0048] The NHFE reactor 100 includes a reactor core 101, a hydrogen supply unit 102 (see FIG. 2), an oil / liquid pipe 40, a pump 50, a collection vessel 60, and a controller 90. The reactor core 101 includes a reactor 10, temperature sensors 11 (11a to 11d), and heaters 21, 22a, and 22b. The hydrogen supply unit 102 includes a gas supply pipe 30, a purifier 70, and a gas tank 80.

[0049] The heat-generating material HGM is contained in the reactor 10. In response to this, the controller 90 sets an initial value of 0 for a number parameter for counting the number of times the processes S2 and S3 are executed.

[0050] The controller 90 operates the pump 50 to evacuate the atmosphere inside the reactor 10. When the inside of the reactor 10 reaches a predetermined vacuum level, the controller 90 controls the heaters 21, 22a, and 22b to heat the inside of the reactor 10. This causes the heat-generating material HGM to be baked.

[0051] After the baking has continued for a predetermined time, the controller 90 further increases the temperature inside the reactor 10 using the heaters 21, 22a, and 22b, and starts the introduction (S2) of hydrogen gas into the reactor core 101 using the hydrogen supply unit 102. This causes an exothermic reaction (S3) between the heat-generating material HGM and the hydrogen gas.

[0052] During the exothermic reaction between the heat generating material HGM and hydrogen gas, the temperature of the reactor 10 is monitored by a temperature sensor 11 or the like. The controller 90 acquires the monitoring results and determines, based on the monitoring results, whether or not a decrease in the heat generation amount of the heat generating material HGM has occurred (S4).

[0053] The controller 90 may determine whether a decrease in the amount of heat generated by the heat generating material HGM per unit time has occurred by determining the amount of heat generated by the heat generating material HGM per unit time based on the monitoring results and comparing the determined amount of heat generated with a threshold value. The threshold value may be determined experimentally in advance as an appropriate value for determining a decrease in the amount of heat generated. The controller 90 may determine that the amount of heat generated is being maintained if the determined amount of heat generated is equal to or greater than the threshold value. The controller 90 may determine that the amount of heat generated has decreased if the determined amount of heat generated is less than the threshold value.

[0054] While the amount of heat generation is maintained (No in S4), the controller 90 continues the processes of S2 and S3.

[0055] When the amount of heat generation decreases (Yes in S4), the controller 90 determines whether the number of times the processes of S2 and S3 have been executed has reached a predetermined number (S5). The controller 90 may compare the value of the number of times parameter with the predetermined number of times to determine whether the number of times the processes of S2 and S3 have been executed has reached the predetermined number.

[0056] The heat generating material HGM can increase its heat generation amount by repeating the process of continuing the heat generating reaction while performing the regeneration process up to a certain number of times. Therefore, the "predetermined number of times" is experimentally determined as an appropriate number of times to perform the heat generating process and set in the controller 90.

[0057] If the number of times the processes of S2 and S3 have been performed is less than the predetermined number (No in S5), the controller 90 temporarily stops the supply of hydrogen gas into the reactor 10, further increases the temperature inside the reactor 10, and causes the pump 50 to exhaust the atmosphere inside the reactor 10. At this time, the controller 90 may supply a carrier gas such as nitrogen gas instead of hydrogen gas into the reactor 10 from the gas supply pipe 30. This promotes the degassing of hydrogen and helium from the heat generating material HGM, and they are exhausted together with the atmosphere inside the reactor 10, and the processed gas is collected in the collection container 60 in response to the degassing (S6).

[0058] The processing gas collected in the collection vessel 60 is He3( 3 The processing gas may include a mixed gas of 3He gas and 4He gas. The processing gas may be a mixed gas of 3He gas and argon gas. The processing gas may be a mixed gas of 3He gas and nitrogen gas. The processing gas may be a mixed gas of 3He gas, 4He gas and argon gas. The processing gas may be a mixed gas of 3He gas, 4He gas and nitrogen gas.

[0059] The controller 90 may supply at least a portion of the process gas collected in the collection vessel 60 to the DT fusion reactor 200 .

[0060] The controller 90 may cause the purifier 70 to extract and purify a reaction gas containing proton gas from another portion of the treated gas collected in the collection vessel 60. The controller 90 may send the extracted and purified reaction gas to the reactor 10.

[0061] The controller 90 regenerates the exothermic material HGM in the reactor 10 by degassing the reaction gas containing hydrogen gas (S7). The controller 90 lowers the temperature of the reactor 10, which was raised to regenerate the exothermic material HGM, back to the temperature of the exothermic reaction. The controller 90 increments the value set in the number of times parameter and overwrites the incremented value as the number of times parameter. The process from S2 onwards is then repeated using the regenerated exothermic material HGM.

[0062] When the number of times that the processes of S2 and S3 have been executed reaches a predetermined number (Yes in S5), the controller 90 lowers the temperature inside the reactor 10 without regenerating the heat generating material HGM (S7), evacuates the air, and then opens the reactor 10 to the atmosphere. The used heat generating material HGM is collected from the reactor 10. Then, unused heat generating material HGM is stored in the reactor 10, and the processes from S1 onwards are carried out again. This makes it possible to realize a continuous supply of the process gas containing helium-3 gas from the NHFE reactor 100 to the DT fusion reactor 200.

[0063] Meanwhile, in the DT fusion reactor 200, the controller 210 causes the deuterium supply unit 203 to introduce D (deuterium) gas into the mixing mechanism 208 (S11). The mixing mechanism 208 may hold the introduced D gas.

[0064] In parallel with S11, the introduction mechanism 205 receives the process gas containing 3He gas from the NHFE furnace 100. This process gas may be the process gas collected in S6. The controller 210 controls the introduction mechanism 205 to introduce the process gas containing 3He gas into the first space 2041 of the blanket 204 (S12). The first space 2041 receives neutrons from the member 2043 via the second space 2042. These neutrons may be neutrons bred in S18, which will be described later. The first space 2041 generates T (tritium) gas using the process gas containing 3He gas (S13). The separation mechanism 207 receives the process gas from the first space 2041. The controller 210 controls the separation mechanism 207 to separate and purify the T gas from the processing gas (S14), supply the T gas to the mixing mechanism 208, and return the separated and purified processing gas to the first space 2041 of the blanket 204. The mixing mechanism 208 may retain the supplied T gas.

[0065] Once both the D gas and the T gas are prepared in the mixing mechanism 208, the controller 210 causes the mixing mechanism 208 to mix the D gas and the T gas in a predetermined ratio to generate a DT mixed gas (S15). The predetermined ratio can be experimentally determined in advance as an appropriate ratio for performing a DT fusion reaction (see FIG. 4). The controller 210 causes the mixing mechanism 208 to supply the DT mixed gas to the reactor core 201 (S16). The controller 210 causes a DT fusion reaction in the reactor core 201 (S17), generating helium-4 gas and energetic neutrons.

[0066] Neutrons generated in the DT fusion reaction are multiplied in the member 2043 of the blanket 204 (S18). The multiplied neutrons may reach the first space 2041 via the second space 2042 and be used to generate T gas (S13).

[0067] The majority (e.g., 80%) of the energy generated in the DT fusion reaction is contained in the neutrons, and is also contained in the neutrons bred from these neutrons. The bred neutrons are slowed down by the water in the second space 2042 as they pass through the second space 2042, and the energy contained in the neutrons can be converted to thermal energy and contained in the water. The controller 210 causes the recovery mechanism 206 to recover the energy from the fusion using the water in the second space 2042 (S19).

[0068] The recovery mechanism 206 may include a turbine for water or steam. The controller 210 controls the recovery mechanism 206 to convert the thermal energy into electrical energy, such as by using the thermal energy-containing water or steam to rotate a turbine to generate electricity. The controller 210 controls the recovery mechanism 206 to send the electrical energy to the grid 300.

[0069] Thereafter, the processes from S11 onwards are carried out again in the DT fusion reactor 200. This makes it possible to realize continuous fusion power generation.

[0070] As described above, in this embodiment, the DT fusion reactor 200 receives the process gas containing helium 3 gas from the NHFE reactor 100 and uses the process gas to produce tritium ( 3 H) gas is generated. This allows the DT fusion reactor 200 to continuously generate tritium gas without using a tritium breeding material such as lithium. In other words, a fusion blanket can be constructed without providing a mechanism for continuously supplying a liquid containing lithium into the blanket, a mechanism for shielding the liquid containing lithium from the atmosphere, a mechanism for cooling the liquid containing lithium, etc., and the blanket structure can be easily simplified.

[0071] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the DT fusion reactor 200 can continuously generate tritium gas without using a tritium breeder such as lithium, which means that the cost of procuring a rare tritium breeder such as lithium can be saved, thereby reducing the cost of generating fusion power.

[0072] Furthermore, in this embodiment, in the DT fusion reactor 200, the member 2043 serving as a neutron breeding material is formed of a material MT containing at least one of beryllium, lead, and bismuth as its main component. When lead is used for at least a portion of the material MT of the member 2043, the cost of the member 2043 serving as a neutron breeding material can be reduced compared to when beryllium is used for all of the material MT. In this case, the cost of generating fusion power can be further reduced.

[0073] The DT fusion reactor 200 may have any structure capable of generating a DT fusion reaction. The DT fusion reactor 200 may have a magnetic confinement structure or an inertial confinement structure. If a magnetic confinement structure is used, the DT fusion reactor 200 may have any of the following structures: tokamak, spherical tokamak, helical, magnetic mirror, reversed field pinch, field-reversed configuration, spheromak, or high-beta fusion reactor. If an inertial confinement structure is used, the DT fusion reactor 200 may have any of the following structures: laser fusion, heavy ion inertial confinement fusion, bubble fusion, fusor, inertial electrostatic confinement fusion, or Z-pinch fusion. If a structure other than magnetic confinement or inertial confinement is used, the DT fusion reactor 200 may have any of the following structures: pyroelectric fusion, muon catalyzed fusion, magnetized target fusion, or magnetically insulated inertial fusion.

[0074] In the DT fusion reactor 200, the members 2043 of the blanket 204 may be formed entirely of lead, or partly of lead and partly of beryllium, or partly of lead and partly of bismuth, or partly of lead and partly of beryllium and partly of bismuth.

[0075] Alternatively, the introduction mechanism 205 may be connected to a gas cylinder instead of the NHFE furnace 100. The gas cylinder may store the process gas containing 3He gas generated in the NHFE furnace 100 at a predetermined timing (for example, when the heat-generating material is replaced) or periodically. This allows the introduction mechanism 205 to receive the process gas containing 3He gas from the gas cylinder and introduce it into the blanket 204.

[0076] Alternatively, the recovery mechanism 206 may recover thermal energy generated in the NHFE reactor in addition to the energy generated in the DT fusion reactor 200. For example, in the NHFE reactor 100 shown in FIG. 7 , the oil liquid may flow into the oil-liquid pipe 40 from below the reactor 10, circulate around the outer wall of the reactor 10, be heated through the outer wall, and then flow out of the oil-liquid pipe 40 to the recovery mechanism 206 above the reactor 10. This allows the thermal energy generated by the reaction of the heat-generating material HGM to be contained in the oil liquid and supplied to the recovery mechanism 206. The recovery mechanism 206 may have a turbine for the oil liquid, separate from the turbine for water or steam. The controller 210 converts the thermal energy into electrical energy by using the recovery mechanism 206 to rotate the turbine with the oil liquid containing thermal energy to generate electricity. The controller 210 sends the electrical energy from the recovery mechanism 206 to the grid 300. This allows power generation using both the thermal energy from the exothermic reaction in the NHFE reactor 100 and the thermal energy from the DT fusion reaction in the DT fusion reactor 200, thereby improving the power generation efficiency of the entire system 1 including the NHFE reactor 100 and the DT fusion reactor 200.

[0077] (Example) For example, the energy E1 generated in the DT fusion reaction in the NHFE reactor 100 shown in FIG. 4 is 7.7 MeV. 7.7 MeV is converted to 1.2345×10 -12 J. This is the energy generated for two hydrogen molecules (H2). 1 mole = 6.023 x 10 23 When converted into the energy for a hydrogen molecule (H2), 1.2345×10 -12x6.023x10 23 ÷2=3.718×10 11 J This is 3.718×10 11 When converted to MWh, J is equivalent to 103 MWh.

[0078] That is, 1 mole of hydrogen molecules (H2) produces 0.5 moles of helium-3 gas and 103 MWh of thermal energy. 2 moles of hydrogen molecules (H2) produce 1 mole of helium-3 gas and 206 MWh of thermal energy. 4 moles of hydrogen molecules (H2) produce 2 moles of helium-3 gas and 412 MWh of thermal energy.

[0079] According to the T multiplication reaction shown in Figure 4, 0.5 moles of tritium molecules (T2) are produced from 1 mole of helium-3 gas. This means that 0.5 moles of tritium molecules (T2) are produced from 2 moles of hydrogen molecules (H2). This means that 1 mole of tritium molecules (T2) is produced from 4 moles of hydrogen molecules (H2).

[0080] The energy E4 generated by the DT fusion reaction in the DT fusion reactor 200 shown in Figure 4 is, for example, 14 MeV. 14 MeV is converted to J, which is 2.2445 x 10 -12 J. This is half the energy generated for one deuterium molecule (D2) and one tritium molecule (T2). 1 mole = 6.023 x 10 23 deuterium molecules (D2), 1 mole = 6.023 x 10 23 When converted to the energy for a tritium molecule (T2), 2.2445×10 -12 x6.023x10 23 ×2=2.7037×10 12 J It becomes 2.7037×10 12 J is equivalent to 751 MWh when converted to MWh.

[0081] In other words, neutrons containing 751 MWh of thermal energy are produced from one mole of deuterium molecules (D2) and one mole of tritium molecules (T2).

[0082] Therefore, the total thermal energy generated from 4 moles of hydrogen molecules (H2), 1 mole of deuterium molecules (D2), and 1 mole of tritium molecules (T2) in the NHFE reactor 100 and the DT fusion reactor 200 is: 412MWh+751MWh=1163MWh This is equivalent to generating enough electricity for 94.4 households if each household uses 1.03 kWh 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

[0083] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as within the scope of the invention described in the claims and their equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0084] 1 System 100 NHFE Furnace 200 DT fusion reactor

Claims

1. Helium 3 ( ３ introducing a process gas containing tritium gas from the outside and generating tritium gas using the process gas; A nuclear fusion method comprising:

2. The generating step comprises: introducing the process gas from outside into the first space of the blanket having the first space, and generating the tritium gas in the first space using the process gas. The nuclear fusion method according to claim 1.

3. The generating step comprises: The method includes introducing water into the second space of the blanket having the first space and the second space, introducing the process gas from outside into the first space, and generating the tritium gas in the first space using the process gas. The nuclear fusion method according to claim 2.

4. and recovering energy from nuclear fusion using the water in the second space. The nuclear fusion method according to claim 3.

5. and separating the tritium gas generated in the first space from the process gas. The nuclear fusion method according to claim 2.

6. The method further includes mixing the deuterium gas and the separated tritium gas and supplying the mixture into a reactor core disposed inside the blanket and capable of generating plasma for causing a nuclear fusion reaction. The nuclear fusion method according to claim 5.

7. The blanket further includes a member formed of a material primarily composed of at least one of beryllium, lead, and bismuth, and using the member to multiply neutrons. The nuclear fusion method according to claim 6.

8. It is a blanket for nuclear fusion, and is made of externally introduced helium 3 ( ３ - Patent application title: Blanket including a structure for producing tritium gas using a process gas including (He) gas A blanket structure with

9. The blanket is a first space for generating tritium gas using the process gas; The blanket structure comprises: An introduction mechanism for introducing the processing gas from the outside into the first space is further provided. The blanket structure of claim 8.

10. The blanket is It further has a second space into which water is introduced.

10. The blanket structure of claim 9.

11. The nuclear fusion reactor further includes a recovery mechanism that recovers energy generated by nuclear fusion using the water in the second space. The blanket structure of claim 10.

12. The apparatus further includes a separation mechanism for separating tritium gas generated in the first space from the processing gas.

10. The blanket structure of claim 9.

13. The reactor further includes a mixing mechanism that mixes the deuterium gas with the separated tritium gas and supplies the mixed gas into a reactor core that is disposed inside the blanket and is capable of generating plasma for causing a nuclear fusion reaction. The blanket structure of claim 12.

14. The blanket is The neutron generating element is formed of a material containing at least one of beryllium, lead, and bismuth as a main component, and further includes a member for multiplying neutrons.

14. The blanket structure of claim 13.

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