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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.
Myron A. Hoffman Lawrence, D. S. Rowe
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 6 | Number 2 | September 1984 | Pages 288-304
Technical Paper | Nonelectrical Application | doi.org/10.13182/FST84-A23159
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Using energy from a fusion reactor to produce such synfuels as hydrogen is a challenging goal because of the special thermal requirements imposed on the blanket design. The interfacing of the tandem mirror reactor to the General Atomic thermochemical process (TCP) for hydrogen production considering two types of interfacing approaches is investigated. The first uses electrical energy to joule heat a high-temperature part of the TCP and can have an overall plant efficiency of ∼30 to 36%. The second approach uses high-temperature thermal energy to heat the high-temperature part of the TCP and has an overall plant efficiency of 43%. The trade-off between these two approaches involves consideration of overall plant efficiency versus the feasibility of developing a cost-effective, high-temperature blanket and heat transport system for long lifetime and high reliability.