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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.
R. H. Whitley, G. R. Lutz, S. A. Frieje, D. H. Berwald, J. D. Gordon
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 10 | Number 3 | November 1986 | Pages 1165-1170
Fusion Reactor Design—II | doi.org/10.13182/FST86-A24888
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A commercial electric plant concept has been developed with multiple advanced tokamak reactors operating at a single site with shared equipment. These multiplexed reactors use superconducting magnets, operate at high beta, and have inductively driven plasma current. The attractiveness of this approach is based on cost reductions which are achieved by the sharing of some components and on availability improvements resulting from the addition of standby equipment. Parametric studies have been performed to determine both the optimal number of reactors in a plant and the optimal reactor characteristics. A plant layout has been developed which uses remote maintenance technologies for operation and maintenance such that at least part of the plant is always operational.