Optimal size of beryllium pebbles as a neutron multiplier − helium recoil calculations aiming for swelling reduction and new proposal of neutron multiplier for advanced high-temperature tritium breeding blanket

Etsuo Ishitsuka, Inesh Kenzhina, Hai Quan Ho, Jae-Hwan Kim, Katsuyoshi Tatenuma, Yevgen Chikhray, Naoyuki Takaki

Nuclear Materials and Energy, 2026

Full text Open access: Gold Metadata (CSL-JSON)
DOI 10.1016/j.nme.2026.102106
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

• The relationship between the size of beryllium and helium recoil release was studied using the PHITS code. • Within the studied diameter range (10 μm to 1 mm), a smaller beryllium particle size enhances helium recoil release. • A 10 μm beryllium sphere filled with lead is proposed as a candidate material for advanced tritium breeding blankets. The relationship between the size of the neutron multiplier (diameters ranging from 10 μm to 1 mm) and helium recoil release was studied using the PHITS code to reduce swelling actively. The results indicate that a smaller particle size enhances helium recoil release. However, smaller spheres are more affected by helium irradiation from neighboring spheres. To mitigate this effect, a 10 μm beryllium sphere filled with lead is proposed as a candidate material for advanced tritium breeding blankets designed for high-temperature operation. This lead-filled material is attractive because molten lead can remove helium from the system while improving both the tritium breeding ratio and the neutron-shielding performance of the fusion blanket.