Advancing Tritium Self-Sufficiency in Fusion Power Plants: Insights from the BABY Experiment

TL;DR

This paper reports the first experimental measurement of tritium breeding ratio in molten salts using high-energy neutron irradiation, revealing unexpected tritium collection behavior and providing crucial validation for fusion reactor development.

Contribution

It introduces a pioneering experimental approach with high-energy neutrons to measure tritium breeding in molten salts, advancing beyond traditional low-energy methods.

Findings

Measured tritium breeding ratio directly in molten salts.

Discovered tritium was mainly collected as HT, not TF.

Provided experimental validation for tritium breeding models.

Abstract

In the pursuit of fusion power, achieving tritium self-sufficiency stands as a pivotal challenge. Tritium breeding within molten salts is a critical aspect of next-generation fusion reactors, yet experimental measurements of \gls{tbr} have remained elusive. Here we present the results of the \gls{baby} experiment, which represents a pioneering effort in tritium research by utilizing high-energy (\SI{14}{\mega\electronvolt}) neutron irradiation of molten salts, a departure from conventional low-energy neutron approaches. Using a small-scale (\SI{100}{\milli\litre}) molten salt tritium breeding setup, we not only simulated, but also directly measured a \gls{tbr}. This innovative approach provides crucial experimental validation, offering insights unattainable through simulation alone. Moreover, our findings reveal a surprising outcome: tritium was predominantly collected as HT, contrary to the expected TF. This underscores the complexity of tritium behavior in molten salts, highlighting the need for further investigation. This work lays the foundation for a more sophisticated experimental setup, including increasing the volume of the breeder, enhancing neutron detection, and refining tritium collection systems. Such improvements are crucial for advancing our understanding of fusion reactor feasibility and paving the way for future experiments.