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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.
Masahiro Kinoshita
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 9 | Number 3 | May 1986 | Pages 492-498
Technical Paper | Tritium System | doi.org/10.13182/FST86-A24736
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An efficient dynamic simulation code for hydrogen isotope distillation columns is developed. Because of the great dimensionality and stiffness of the basic ordinary differential equations to be integrated, the long computing time required is often the major stumbling block in computer simulation work for column dynamics. Publicly available integration algorithms are reviewed and some are tested. The Ballard-Brosilow algorithm is chosen as the most attractive one in terms of both stability and simplicity. The algorithm requires only solution of linear tridiagonal equations and scalar bubble point calculations at every time step. Replacing the improved Euler algorithm in the previous code by the Ballard-Brosilow algorithm and determining an adjustment method for the time step size, the resultant computer code presents a remarkable success: A typical numerical example simulating column dynamics from a steady state to another indicates that the calculational results can be obtained with engineering accuracy in about two orders of magnitude shorter computing time.