Pellet injection in TFTR

Maximizing the neutron production rate while minimizing neutron activation and tritium recycling is particularly important during early tritium operations in TFTR and other advanced tokamaks. Injecting a large tritium pellet just before compression of a low-density deuterium plasma could give a modest increase in the postcompression rate of neutron production in TFTR. The shorter duration of the neutron burst would result in reduced neutron activation of the vacuum vessel. Multiple injection of tritium pellets in a high current plasma could substantially reduce tritium recycling at the limiter. Although significant improvements can result from fueling with pellets during early tritium operations, considerable advance planning is required to ensure that a suitable injector is available at the start of tritium operations.