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(FTP/40) Evaluation of $\rm CO_2$ Emissions in the Life Cycle of Tokamak Fusion Power Reactors

   
K. Tokimatsu 1, H. Hondo 2, Y. Ogawa , K. Okano 3, K. Yamaji  and M. Katsurai 
 
The University of Tokyo, School of Engineering, 2-11-16, Yayoi, Bunyo-ku, Tokoy, Japan 113
1 Present Affiliation: RITE (Research Institute of Innovative Technologies for the Eartch), Nishi-shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0003, Japan
2 CRIEPI (Centeral Research Institute of Electric Power Industry), Socio-economic Research Center, 1-6-1, Ohtemachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan 100
3 CRIEPI (Centeral Research Institute of Electric Power Industry), Komae Research Laboratory, 2-11-1, Iwadokita, Komae-city, Tokyo, Japan 201

Abstract
Global warming problem is one of the most serious problems which human beings are currently face. Carbon Dioxide ($\rm CO_2$) from power plants is considered one of the major causes of the global warming . In this study, $\rm CO_2$ emission from Tokamak fusion power plants are compared with those from conventional present power generation technologies. Plasma parameters are calculated by a systems code couples the ITER  physics, TF coil shape, and cost calculation. $\rm CO_2$ emission from construction and operation is evaluated from summing up component volume times $\rm CO_2$ emission intensities of the composing materials. The uncountable components on such as reactor builing, balance of plants, etc. are scaled from the ITER referenced power reactor (ITER-like) by use of the Generomak model . Two important findings are revealed. Most important finding is that $\rm CO_2$ emissions from fusion reactors are less than from PV, and less then double of that from fission reactor. The other finding are that

  1. most $\rm CO_2$ emissions from the fusion reactors are from materials,
  2. $\rm CO_2$ emissions from the reactor construction becomes almost 60 % to 70 %, rest from reactor operation, and
  3. the RS reactor can reduce $\rm CO_2$ emission half compared with the ITER-like reactor.
In conclusion, tokamak fusion reactors are excellent because of their small $\rm CO_2$ emission intensity, and they can be one of effective energy supply technologies to solve global warming.

 

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IAEA 1999