A cost-based systems analysis of long-pulsed versus steady-state tokamak reactors

A cost-based, comparative systems analysis of a steady-state (SS) versus hybrid-pulsed (HP) fusion tokamak power plant indicates that the latter is 10-20% more expensive on the basis of total cost of energy. Balancing this added cost are considerably reduced current-drive requirements and a somewhat alleviated divertor heat-flux problem. Contributions to this penalty are made on a nearly equal basis by the added FPC (fusion power core), TS (thermal storage), and ETS (energy transfer and storage) costs, with the former being a major contributor to the fusion-related energy-production costs for both SS and HP options. Even with the elimination of CD cost for the HP option, the added FPC, TS, and ETS costs would contribute a ~25% tariff to fusion-related costs for exploiting potential physics (eased current drive) and engineering (eased steady-state diverter and plant power handling) advantages