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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.
M. C. Billone, Y. Y. Liu
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 8 | Number 1 | July 1985 | Pages 881-886
Tritium | Proceedings of the Sixth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (San Francisco, California, March 3-7, 1985) | doi.org/10.13182/FST85-A40144
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Models are developed to describe the steady-state percolation of tritium through the solid-breeder interconnected porosity to the purge stream, convection of tritium by the helium purge stream, and permeation of tritium through the structural material to the primary coolant system. Important parameters in the models are tritium generation rate, breeder microstructure, tritium species in the gas phase, temperatures, tritium diffusivities and permeabilities, and effectiveness of oxide barriers. The models are used to perform calculations for fusion-blanket conceptual designs. The results indicate that for isotopic swamping of the purge stream with protium and relatively high oxide impedance factors (∼100 for nonbreeder-side surfaces) the leakage rate from the blanket can be limited to less than 100 Ci/day for reasonable purge flow rates and pressure drops. However, for lower impedance factors and/or for decreased protium partial pressure in the purge, problems do arise with limiting the tritium leakage.