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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.
Shigeo Numata, Yasuhiko Fujii, Makoto Okamoto
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 26 | Number 3 | November 1994 | Pages 248-254
Technical Paper | Safety/Environmental Aspect | doi.org/10.13182/FST94-A30328
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The catalytic conversion of tritium gas (HT) to tritiated water (HTO) by cement materials is studied by using mortars made of ordinary Portland cement and Portland blast furnace slag cement exposed to HT at concentrations of 3 to 6 × 109 Bq/m3 in air. Within the experimental conditions, no significant difference in the conversion rate is found between the two types of cement. Extended experiments are carried out by using mortars made of ordinary Portland cement to evaluate the catalytic effect of cement materials. The experimental results are explained by a model that assumes that the conversion is dependent on the geometric surface area of the mortars. The mortar surface is found to play an important role in the conversion. The capacity coefficient in mass transfer on the mortar surface and its standard deviation are found to be (4.3 ± 1.4) × 10−11 m/s. The mechanism of the conversion reaction is uncertain in this study. The conversion rate of the catalytic effect by the cement materials is compared with the conversion rate by the radioactive decay of T2. The HTO produced by the conversion is retained in the pore water of the cement materials.