HIBALL—A conceptual design study of a heavy-ion driven inertial confinement fusion power plant

A preliminary concept for a heavy-ion beam driven inertial confinement fusion power plant is presented. The high repetition rate of the RF accelerator driver is utilized to serve four reactor chambers alternatingly. In the chambers a novel first-wall protection scheme is used. At a target gain of 83 the total net electrical output is 3.8 GW. The recirculating power fraction is below 15%. The main goal of the comprehensive HIBALL study (which is continuing) is to demonstrate the compatibility of the design of the driver, the target and the reactor chambers. Though preliminary, the present design is essentially self-consistent. Tentative cost estimates are given. The costs compare well with those found in similar studies on magnetic confinement fusion reactors.