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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.
J. D. Galambos, Y-K. M. Peng, D. T. Blackfield
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 10 | Number 3 | November 1986 | Pages 498-503
The Compact Ignition Tokamak Program | Proceedings of the Seveth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (Reno, Nevada, June 15–19, 1986) | doi.org/10.13182/FST86-A24795
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Fusion Engineering Design Center (FEDC) Tokamak Systems Code is used to perform trade studies in accordance with the Compact Ignition Tokamak (CIT) physics and engineering guidelines. We examine various toroidal field coil (TFC) configurations, preload levels, and coil materials. Use of Inconel-copper composite material results in the smallest sized devices for both bucked and wedged TFCs and wedged-only TFCs. Preload levels of 23 Mkg are needed for the minimum sized devices, and for the lower strength materials, the minimum size is sensitive to the preload level. Results from these trade studies help lead to the choice of the baseline CIT point at R = 1.25 m and B = 10.4 T.