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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.
D. R. Juliano, D. N. Ruzic, D. Hill, K. A. Werley
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 29 | Number 2 | March 1996 | Pages 269-276
Technical Paper | Divertor System | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A30713
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Sufficient neutral atom and molecular throughput is essential for the steady-state operation of the proposed Tokamak Physics Experiment tokamak. To predict the throughput, the B2 edge-plasma fluid code and the DEGAS Monte Carlo neutral transport code were coupled globally. For the day 1 low-power (17.5-MW) operation condition, the recycling coefficient for both codes matched at 0.985, implying that for every 1000 ions striking the divertor plate, 15 are ultimately removed down the pump duct. The neutral molecular density was 2.52 ± 0.15 × 1019/m3, giving a throughput of 92.6 ±5.6 Torr · ℓ/s. Varying the scrape-off length for the plasma extending into the gap between the baffle and the plate from 0 to 2 cm decreased the throughput by a factor of >2. Moving the strike point away from the gap at first increases the throughput by lessening the pumping efficiency of the plasma in the gap. As the plasma is moved even farther away, the throughput drops due to a lack of source term for neutrals entering the pumped region. Illustrating the importance of moving the source term, moving the strike point away from the gap but retaining the original plasma in the gap lowers the throughput by a factor of 10. Altering the curvature of the baffle has little effect on the neutral solution.