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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.
S. K. Ho, L. J. Perkins, S. W. Haney, R. B. Campbell
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 19 | Number 3 | May 1991 | Pages 1322-1326
Result of Large Experiment and Plasma Engineering | doi.org/10.13182/FST91-A29525
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Several emergency plasma shutdown schemes for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) have been analyzed. The development of these procedures is critical in order to demonstrate a reliable safety system to respond to accidents resulting from failures in burn control systems, plasma facing components, and thermal conversion facilities. The schemes considered include shutting off the heating and fueling systems, triggering an H-mode to L-mode transition, injecting impurities, and disabling vertical stability control systems. Most of these methods are based on active detection and intervention primarily because the power producing element (the plasma) is not in direct communication with the media undergoing the accident condition (the coolant and blanket material). Time dependent simulations indicate that emergency shutdown time without triggering a disruption from the above schemes is only marginally acceptable.