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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.
C. D. Henning, B. G. Logan, W. L. Barr, R. H. Bulmer, J. N. Doggett, B. M. Johnston, J. D. Lee, R. W. Hoard, D. S. Slack, J. R. Miller
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 8 | Number 1 | July 1985 | Pages 1351-1356
Next-Generation Device | Proceedings of the Sixth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (San Francisco, California, March 3-7, 1985) | doi.org/10.13182/FST85-A39956
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
As part of a continuing effort by the Office of Fusion Energy to define an ignition experiment, a superconducting tokamak has been designed with thin neutron shielding and aggressive magnet and plasma parameters. By so minimizing the inner radial dimensions of the tokamak center post, coil, and shielding region, the plasma major radius is reduced with a corresponding reduction in device costs. The peak nuclear-heating rate in the superconducting TF coils is 22 mW/cm3, which results in a steady heat load to the cryogenic system of 50 kW. Fast-wave, lower-hybrid heating would be used to induce a 10-MA current in a moderate density plasma. Then pellet fueling would raise the density to achieve ignition as the current decays in a few hundred seconds. Steady-state current drive in subignited conditions permits a 0.8 MW/m2 average wall loading to study plasma and nuclear engineering effects.