Preliminary evaluation of the adequacy of lithium resources of the world and China for D-T fusion reactors

This paper studied the adequacy of the World and China lithium resources, considering the most promising uses in the future, involving nuclear fusion and electric-vehicles. The lithium recycle model for D-T fusion power plant and electric-vehicles, and the logistic growth prediction model of the primary energy for the World and China were constructed. Based on these models, preliminary evaluation of lithium resources adequacy of the World and China for D-T fusion reactors was presented under certain assumptions. Results show that: a. The world terrestrial reserves of lithium seems too limited to support a significant D-T power program, but the lithium reserves of China are relatively abundant, compared with the world case. b. The lithium resources contained in the oceans can be called the "permanent" energy. c. The change in ⁶Li enrichment has no obvious effect on the availability period of the lithium resources using FDS-II (Liquid Pb- ¹⁷Li breeder blanket) type of reactors, but it has a stronger effect when PPCS-B (Solid Li ₄ SiO ₄ ceramics breeder blanket) is used.