Evaluation of tritium production rate in a blanket mock-up using a compact fusion neutron source. (18th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mukai, Keisuke; Ogino, Yasuyuki; Kobayashi, Makoto I.; Mahmoud, Bakr; Yagi, Juro; Ogawa, Kunihiro; Isobe, Mitsutaka; Konishi, Satoshi
• Is Part Of: Nuclear fusion. Volume 61:Number 4(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-03-18
• Subjects: blanket -- compact neutron source -- tritium breeding -- neutronics experiment -- single-crystal diamond; Nuclear fusion -- Periodicals; 621.48405
• DOI: 10.1088/1741-4326/abe4e7
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0029-5515

Abstract

Abstract: We report a neutronics study of a blanket mock-up using a discharge-type compact fusion neutron source. Deuterium–deuterium fusion neutrons were irradiated to the mock-ups composed of tritium breeder and neutron reflector/moderator. The tritium production rate (TPR) per source neutron was measured by a single-crystal diamond detector with a 6 Li-enriched lithium fluoride film convertor after the calibration process. Despite the low neutron yield, energetic alpha and triton particles via 6 Li(n, t) α neutron capture as well as 12 C via elastic scattering were successfully detected by the SDD with high signal to noise ratios. The TPRs were experimentally evaluated with errors of 8.4%–8.5% at the 1 σ level at the positions with high thermal neutron fluxes where the errors were dominantly introduced by uncertainties in the monitoring of the neutron production rate. The calculated to experimental (C/E) values of TPR were evaluated to be 0.91–1.27 (FENDL-2.1) and 0.94–1.28 (FENDL-3.1). As the neutron source can generate 14 MeV neutrons using a mixed gas of deuterium and tritium, this approach provides more opportunities for blanket neutronics experiments.