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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.
E.A. Chaniotakis, J.P. Freidberg, D.R. Cohn
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 19 | Number 3 | May 1991 | Pages 1168-1176
Ignition Device | doi.org/10.13182/FST91-A29501
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In this paper we write the 0-D energy balance in terms of the parameters , and . The minimum value of W required to achieve ohmic ignition (i.e. II = 0) in the generic case (i.e. no n or T dependance on τ), and for various dependencies of τ on n and T is W ∼ 15 in all cases. Also the value of W below which no access, even with the aid of auxiliary power, to high temperature alpha dominated operation is possible is W ∼ 2 in all cases. Optimized designs are obtained by minimizing the ratio of the auxiliary power pa to the ohmic power pΩ at the Cordey pass. The optimization is consistent with the physics requirements, the toroidal field coil volume and stress constraints, and with the volt-second and stress constraints of the ohmic transformer. Results under various τ dependencies are presented.