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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.
A. Rene Raffray, Myron A. Hoffman, Thomas Gaskins
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 10 | Number 3 | November 1986 | Pages 1577-1582
Fusion Economic | doi.org/10.13182/FST86-A24957
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A detailed cost study of the ESPRESSO blanket concept for the Tandem Mirror Fusion Reactor has been performed to complement the thermal-hydraulic parametric study of Reference 1. A computer code was developed to size the magnet, blanket and piping components and to evaluate the central cell contribution to the cost of electricity. The two most promising solid breeder/neutron multiplier configurations were studied: natural lithium oxide as the breeder with no multiplier (Case I), and 30% enriched gamma-lithium aluminate as the breeder with beryllium as the multiplier (Case IV). A design window was obtained for each case based on maximum material temperatures and spacing constraints. The minimum cost designs for Case I and Case IV correspond to 31 and 41 mills/kW-hr for the central cell contribution to the cost of electricity, and to optimum neutron wall loadings of 2.3 and 3.4 MW/m2, respectively.