(126a) Feasibility of Hydrogen Production Using Fusion as the Primary Energy Source

The High Average Power Laser (HAPL) program is developing technology for Laser Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) with the goal of producing electricity from the heat generated by the implosion of D-T targets. The heat created by the Laser IFE device could also be used for thermochemical splitting or high temperature electrolysis of water in a hydrogen production process. The Savannah River National Laboratory has begun to explore the feasibility of using Laser IFE to produce hydrogen by means of water-splitting. Besides assessing the practicality of fusion-powered hydrogen production, two specific questions were addressed: 1. Does Laser IFE afford any advantages over other potential hydrogen production concepts, particularly those using nucxlear fission as the primary energy source? 2. Is the proposed Fusion Test Facility suitable for a hydrogen preoduction demonstration?