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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.
K. C. Lee, R. N. Cherdack
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 4 | Number 2 | September 1983 | Pages 603-608
Fusion System Studies | doi.org/10.13182/FST83-A22928
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A relatively high temperature superheated steam cycle was designed to be compatible with a D-D tokamak blanket to help identify some of the benefits of using the D-D fuel .cycle. Since less tritium leaves the plasma in a D-D reactor than in a D-T reactor and tritium is not produced in the D-D reactor blanket, it may be acceptable for steam generated in the first wall and blanket to be used directly in a turbine generator. Calculations indicated high temperature superheated steam (811K, 12.5MPa) could be generated within the allowable stresses of presently available piping materials. Based on these turbine inlet conditions, a backpressure of 50 mm HgA, 6-feedwater heaters, 1 reheater and a 6-flow cross compound turbine generator, the overall cycle efficiency is estimated to be 40.5%.