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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.
John R. Miller
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 8 | Number 1 | July 1985 | Pages 829-837
Magnet Engineering | Proceedings of the Sixth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (San Francisco, California, March 3-7, 1985) | doi.org/10.13182/FST85-A40136
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An investigation of several fundamental limits of machine design indicate that a machine fitting the specifications of the Tokamak Fusion Core Experiment (TFCX) can be built with both a superconducting toroidal field (TF) coil set and a plasma major radius of less than 3.2 m. This small size is achieved by accepting a peak nuclear heat load of 50 kW·m−3 in the TF coil inner leg while operating at a 10-T maximum field with a current density of 35 A·mm−2 in the winding pack. This performance, high by traditional standards, is justified based on developments in forced flow conductor technology using Nb3Sn composite superconductors.