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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.
T. Honda, T. Uda, K. Maki, T. Okazaki, Y. Seki, I. Aoki
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 25 | Number 4 | July 1994 | Pages 451-468
Technical Paper | Safety/Environmental Aspect | doi.org/10.13182/FST94-A30252
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A comprehensive safety analysis code system has been proposed for the quantitative investigation of the safety of nuclear fusion reactors such as the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). As a first step, the plasma dynamics and the thermal characteristics of the core internal structures have been developed by a one-point model and a time-dependent one-dimensional heat transfer model, respectively. The thermal behavior of ITER during overpower events caused by thermal instability of the plasma has been analyzed. In a truly ignited operation (Q ∼ ∞), the plasma reaches the beta limit in ∼6.5 (3.5) s after insertion of a + 10% fluctuation in fuel density, when the ITER89-L power law (the offset-linear law) is applied. The surface temperature of the divert or tiles rises to ∼1900°C, which may result in damage from erosion and thermal stress. On the other hand, the outboard and inboard structures maintain their integrity during overpower events if the cooling systems function normally. The code system will be integrated step by step to provide overall safety analyses for nuclear fusion reactors.