ANS NETS 2022: Nuclear and Emerging Technologies for Space Molten Salt Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) Fast Fission Reactor for Lunar and Planetary Surface Power Authors & Affiliations: - L. P. Forsley (GEC, NASA), Deputy PI, NASA LCF Project - T. L. Benyo, Ph.D. (NASA), PI, NASA LCF Project - M. R. Deminico, (NASA), PM, NASA LCF Project - P. A. Mosier-Boss, Ph.D. (GEC), Senior Scientist - L. A. Dudzinski (NASA), Chief Technologist, Planetary Science Division Organizations: Global Energy Corporation (GEC), NASA, American Nuclear Society (ANS) Generating Power from Lattice Confinement Fusion¹ System Architecture: - LCF Fusion Neutron Generator - Fission Material (U or Th) In molten salt - Neutron Reflector - Drive Advanced Stirling Engine for thermal power conversion Key Takeaway: - LCF provides a fast neutron source to maintain actinide sub-critical fission. References: 1. B. Baramsai, et. al., "NASA's New Shortcut to Fusion Power: Lattice Confinement Fusion Eliminates Massive Magnets and Powerful Lasers", IEEE Spectrum (March, 2022). https://spectrum.ieee.org/lattice-confinement-fusion Lattice Confinement Fusion¹: Nuclear Products Protons and Alpha Particles: - NASA JSC Linear Energy Transfer Analysis (CR-39) from two experiments²,³ (e.g., ⁷Li(d,n)2α 3-body nuclear reaction and neutron induced recoils). - Observed reactions include: d(d,p)t, ⁷Li(d,n)2α, d(³He,p)α, Pd(d,n)p, Pd(p,γ)Ag. Neutron Recoils (1 - 4.5 MeV): - Comparison between ²⁵²Cf fission neutrons (Grey) and LCF fusion neutrons (Red). - SRI (Menlo Park, CA) replication of US Navy patented protocol³ and analyzed at Lebedev Institute.³,⁴ Conclusion: - Lattice Confinement Fusion (LCF) produces MeV charged particles and neutrons. References: 1. B. Baramsai, et. al., IEEE Spectrum (March, 2022). 2. P.A. Mosier-Boss, et al., Int. J. of Hydrogen Energy, 42, 1 (2017) pp 416-428. 3. US Patent #8,419,919, "System and Method for Generating Particles", (2013). 4. A.G. Lipson, et al., 8th Int. Workshop on Anomalies in Hydrogen/Deuterium Loaded Metals, (2007). Hybrid Fusion-Fast-Fission Reactor using LCF Particles Reaction Kinematics & Probabilities: - D(d,n)³He | 4.0 MeV | primary ≈ 50% | driving particle/energy: n 2.45 MeV - D(d,p)T | 3.25 MeV | primary ≈ 50% | driving particle/energy: p 3.0 MeV - D(³He,p)α | 18.3 MeV | secondary | driving particle/energy: p 15.0 MeV - D(t,n)α | 17.6 MeV | secondary | driving particle/energy: n 14.1 MeV - T(t,α)2n | 11.3 MeV | low probability | driving particle/energy: n 1 – 9 MeV - ³He(³He,α)2p | 12.86 MeV | low probability | driving particle/energy: p 1 – 10 MeV - ²³²Th(n,γ)f | 200. MeV | high probability | driving particle/energy: n 1 – 9 MeV - ²³²Th(p,γ)f | 200. MeV | low probability | driving particle/energy: p 1 – 10 MeV - ²³⁸U(n,γ)f | 200. MeV | high probability | driving particle/energy: n 1 – 9 MeV - ²³⁸U(p,γ)f | 200. MeV | low probability | driving particle/energy: p 1 – 10 MeV LCF Fissions U and Th: - Measured 6.4 MeV LCF neutrons. - Fission cross-sections (σ_f): - ²³²Th(n,f): σ_f = 267 mb - ²³⁸U(n,f): σ_f = 821 mb - ²³⁵U(n,f): σ_f = 1101 mb - Demonstrated with natural U and Th. - No Low Enriched U (LEU), No Highly Enriched U (HEU), No High Assay LEU (HALEU) required. Molten Salt, Hybrid Fusion-Fast-Fission Reactor • Build on previous (Fluorine-Lithium-Be) FLiBe-based¹ thorium salts: - Molten salt metal interactions understood. - Fast reactor without ²³²Th > ²³³Th > ²³³Pa > ²³³U cycle: No chemical separation necessary. - No LEU, HEU or HALEU necessary: natural U, depleted U, or Th used. • High temperature, low pressure molten salts: - Efficient thermal-electric conversion, ΔT > 500 °C. - Couple with an Advanced Stirling Engine for efficient power conversion. • Sub-critical, fast neutron economy maintained by Lattice Confinement Fusion²: - No fission chain reaction using only fertile actinides. - LCF Hybrid reactor is safer than conventional fission reactors. • Power for Lunar, Martian or other Planetary Surfaces. References: 1. D. T. Ingersoll, et. al., "Core Physics Characteristics and Issues for the Advanced High-Temperature Reactor (AHTR)", ORNL. 2. V. Pines, et. al., "Nuclear Fusion Reactions in Deuterated Metals", Phys Rev C., 101, 044609 (2020).