Energetic and economic balance for an inertial fusion power plant

Abstract Starting from the energetic diagram of a possible inertial fusion nuclear power plant, the energy balance is analysed as a function of the component energetic parameters, then the thermonuclear energy gain in the fusion chamber versus the recycling energy fraction and the driver efficiency is calculated. A new method for evaluating energetic and economic gain conditions which must be satisfied to design an efficient inertial fusion nuclear power plant is proposed. These conditions are strongly dependent on the values assumed by the recycling energy fraction used to feed the power plant. A simple expression was obtained for the recycling energy fraction, taking into account the construction, operating and dismantling costs of an IFC nuclear power plant. By this approach, a correlation among the various energetic and economic parameters was found, which, starting from the results obtained up to the present, leads to the identification of future research targets. The original mathematical model developed will allow the energetic and economic criteria to perform a comparative analysis of both current and planned inertial fusion experiments to be identified, in order to evaluate those which, at present, seem the most promising solutions for future ICF nuclear power plants.