SAFETY ASPECTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL-IMPACT OF AN INERTIAL CONFINEMENT FUSION-REACTOR

Release into the environment of radioactive materials contained in heavy ion fusion (HIF) reactor plants must be prevented by similar safety design concepts as they are applied to present fission converter (e. g. LWR's) and breeder reactors (LMFBR's). This study identifies significant safety aspects of inertial confinement fusion power plant concepts and relates them to the more familiar basis of knowledge about the safety and the hazards of other advanced nuclear power reactor systems such as the LMFBR. Assessments of doses to be expected after the release of tritium from HIF reactor plants - normally and accidentally - are performed and compared with does limits and with does resulting from facilities of the fission fuel cycle. Needs for safety related research and developed specifically for inertial confinement fusion as well as for the modelling of the various exposure pathways due to released tritium are pointed out.