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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.
E.U. Bashlakova, V.V. Ignatiev, S.V. Kirillov, V.M. Novikov, A.V. Puzirev
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 20 | Number 4 | December 1991 | Pages 620-626
Advanced Fission Reactors | doi.org/10.13182/FST91-A11946908
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In providing nuclear power plant safety the priority is currently given to reactor self-protection by means of inherent features and passive means. The problems of self-protection for molten-salt fuel reactor (MSR) and molten-salt cooled coated particle fuel graphite reactor (HTMSR) have been studied. The following ways to reach a high level of self-protection are investigated: a) high level of natural circulation (100% for MSR and 10% for HTMSR); b) integrated layout; c) minimization of reactivity changes during fuel burn-up; d) decrease of maximum operative temperature. Calculations of transient processes during heavy accidents without scram are presented. It is shown that maximum temperatures of the primary circuit materials do not reach critical values under such accidents. For the high hypothetical case with the damage of the reactor and guard vessels in MSR the fission products yield from the fuel salt into gas-phase of MSR containment is investigated.