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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.
Yoshiaki Kazawa
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 10 | Number 3 | November 1986 | Pages 1583-1589
Fusion Economic | doi.org/10.13182/FST86-A24958
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The author proposes and defines “the figure of merit of fusion reactor” F which can indicate the economics of fusion reactor comparatively simply and easily by using every important evaluation factor. An attempt to express it synthetically in a numerical formula as to magnetic confined fusion reactor is made. By means of this evaluation formula F, some evaluation studies are carried out for each type of conceptually designed commercial reactors whose design data have been reported. The result is that Heliotron is the best, Tokamak the second, and Tandem Mirror the third.