Effect of component performance perturbations on neutral beam injection system performance in thermonuclear reactors

The effect of component performance perturbations on the efficiency of injection of neutral beams into thermonuclear reactors is discussed for a apecific type of a neutral-beam injector. Based on the model chosen, which includes using direct conversion of the unneutralized portions of the ion beam and recovery of the losses from each element of the injector system, quantitative effects of component performance perturbations are presented as a function of the injected-deuterium-atom energy, using positive and negative deuterium ions. The component performances having the largest leverage on the system efficiency are, in decreasing order, the accelerator efficiency, the trapping fraction, the neutralizer loss direct conversion, and the neutralizer power efficiency. (27 figures) (auth