Radiological impact of an intense fusion economy

• Published in: Fusion engineering and design Vol. 58; pp. 1037 - 1042
• Main Authors: Hamacher, T., Korhonen, R., Aquilonius, K., Cabal, H., Hallberg, B., Lechón, Y., Lepicard, S., Sáez, R.M., Schneider, T., Ward, D.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.11.2001; New York, NY Elsevier Science
• Subjects: 14C emissions; Accident prevention; Applied sciences; Controled nuclear fusion plants; Costs; Dosimetry; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Environmental impact; Exact sciences and technology; Industrial economics; Industrial emissions; Installations for energy generation and conversion: thermal and electrical energy; Intense fusion economy; Isotopes; Radiation effects; Radiology; 14C emissions; Isotopes; Intense fusion economy; Nuclear fusion reactor; Radiation emission; Tritium; Radioisotope; Safety; Carbon 14; Dose rate; Radioactivity; Nuclear reactor
• ISSN: 0920-3796; 1873-7196
• DOI: 10.1016/S0920-3796(01)00544-0

The radiological impact of an intense fusion economy, a 1000 GW operating capacity for a 1000 years, were investigated regarding the isotopes 14C and tritium. Both isotopes participate in global material cycles, the carbon and the water cycle. If a retention time of 10 000 years is assumed for the stored waste, 14C emissions from the repositories dominate the radiation impacts. While the cumulated collective doses over a long term period are rather high and according to the discount rate selected would lead to significant external costs, the individual doses are small compared with the doses associated with the natural background radiation.