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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.
A. Colombini, S. Tosti, V. Violante, G. Simbolotti
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 28 | Number 3 | October 1995 | Pages 573-577
Tritium Processing | Proceedings of the Fifth Topical Meeting on Tritium Technology in Fission, Fusion, and Isotopic Applications Belgirate, Italy May 28-June 3, 1995 | doi.org/10.13182/FST95-A30464
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The analysis of the tritium inventory in Li2O, carried out for the Safety and Environmental Assessment of Fusion Power (SEAFP) helium-cooled ceramic blanket, is based on a diffusion and desorption tritium release model. Within the specific range of breeder temperatures taken into account, desorption was the dominant mechanism so it can be defined as the rate controlling step. At steady state, the model for the tritium inventory in the solid Li2O breeder is supported by a computer code for several operating conditions. At reference conditions of breeder temperatures, by varying the mean grain radius from 1 to 5 µm, a tritium inventory from 0.5 to 2.8 g can be obtained. A helium purge gas velocity from 0.1 to 0.4 m/s gives rise to gas pressure losses from 0.22 to 0.9 MPa, which could probably be reduced by increasing the pebble diameter to 1 mm. This breeder configuration seems to ensure reactor safety.