*3.3.2 ThO2 powder cylinder*

*Nuclear Fusion - One Noble Goal and a Variety of Scientific and Technological Challenges*

A D-T fusion neutron source is located in the center of the shell. The 14 MeV

measure the absolute yield by counting associated α particles [19, 20]. D-T neutron

In the conceptual design of a subcritical blanket based on thorium, the neutrons from the U reaction process are used to maintain the Th/U fuel cycle. The depleted uranium (DU) shell is adopted for studying Th reaction. The IR/OR of the DU shell is 131/300 mm [12]. Six slices of ThO2 samples are put in the radial channel at 90° to

powder filling a plexiglass box with IR/OR of 9/9.5 mm. The mass of ThO2 powder is about 0.45 g, and the thickness is about 0.7 mm. The D-T neutron source is located

The thorium oxide (ThO2) cylindrical assembly with the thickness of 150 mm is produced and consists of three ThO2 cylinders with the thickness of 50 mm and the

beam, as shown in **Figure 2**. ThO2 samples are foils made from ThO2

beam

beam in the drift tube and used to

neutrons are produced by a neutron generator at INPC. The energy of D+

detector is at an angle of 178.2° to the incident D<sup>+</sup>

yield is about 3 × 1010/s.

*Depleted uranium shell assembly.*

**Figure 1.**

**Figure 2.**

*Polyethylene shell assembly.*

the incident D+

in the center of the shell.

*3.3.1 ThO2/DU cylinders*

**3.3 ThO2 cylinders**

**3.2 Depleted uranium shell**

bombarding a T-Ti target is 225 keV. An Au-Si surface barrier semiconductor

**36**

Based on thorium oxide powder, the ThO2 assembly is produced, as shown in **Figure 4** [13–15]. ThO2 powder fills a stainless steel/aluminum cylinder container with IR/OR of 93.4/96.2 mm. The height of the ThO2 cylinder is 168.9 mm and the density 1.5 g/cm3 . Five pieces of ThO2 foils are put at 0° to the incident D<sup>+</sup> beam and fixed using holders consisting of aluminum plate and stainless steel. The mass and size of ThO2 foils are about 5.0 g and ϕ30 × 1 mm, respectively. The distance between the tritium target center and the front end of the cylinder is 78.8 mm.
