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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.
L. El-Guebaly, M. Elias, B. Madani, C. Martin, E. Marriott, FESS-FNSF Team
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 72 | Number 3 | October 2017 | Pages 347-353
Technical Paper | doi.org/10.1080/15361055.2017.1333865
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Fusion Nuclear Science Facility (FNSF) is an essential element of the U.S. developmental roadmap to fusion energy. The facility displays the complex integration of tokamak components and subsystems in fusion environment while testing and developing fusion technologies for the U.S. demonstration (DEMO) plant. The integration of the neutronics, shielding, and activation assessments is a key element to the success of FNSF operation. This paper overviews the engineering aspects of the tokamak-based FNSF study and presents an integral scheme that considered the overall configuration, radiation limits, top-level design requirements (including maximizing the tritium breeding ratio), smart selection of low-activation materials for each component, radial build optimization and definition, environmental and safety constraints, and upper temperatures for the reuse of reduced activation ferritic martensitic and bainitic structures after severe loss of coolant accidents.