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Fusion energy: Progress, partnerships, and the path to deployment
Over the past decade, fusion energy has moved decisively from scientific aspiration toward a credible pathway to a new energy technology. Thanks to long-term federal support, we have significantly advanced our fundamental understanding of plasma physics—the behavior of the superheated gases at the heart of fusion devices. This knowledge will enable the creation and control of fusion fuel under conditions required for future power plants. Our progress is exemplified by breakthroughs at the National Ignition Facility and the Joint European Torus.
Richard V. Carlson
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 4 | Number 2 | September 1983 | Pages 544-549
Environment and Safety | doi.org/10.13182/FST83-A22920
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
One of the primary objectives of the Tritium Systems Test Assembly is to demonstrate that the technologies associated with the DT fuel cycle for a fusion reactor can be operated safely and operated with minimal environmental impact. During the design and construction phase, safety analyses were performed to investigate the effects of normal operations, of component failure, of operational failures, and of failures induced by natural phenomena. The effects on operation personnel, the general public and the environment were determined. Major releases of tritium were found to be highly improbable (<10−6/year) since they require a compound failure of primary and secondary containment, along with either a breach of the building or a failure of the room cleanup system. The effects from normal operations and high probability failures were also determined to be minimal.