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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.
J. D. Baker, D. H. Meikrantz, R. J. Pawelko, R. A. Anderl, D. G. Tuggle
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 27 | Number 2 | March 1995 | Pages 8-13
doi.org/10.13182/FST95-A11963798
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
A zirconium-manganese-iron alloy, St 909, was evaluated as a purifier in tritium handling, transport, and storage applications. High efficiency removal of CH4, CO, CO2, NH3, and O2 was observed at concentrations of 0.1 to 1% in helium. Gas streams at 100 to 5000 sccm were passed through getters operated at 600–800°C. On-getter residence times of two seconds were required to achieve >99% removal of these reactive impurities. At this removal efficiency level, the individual impurity capacity of 100 g of St 909 purifier at 800°C was 0.59, 0.28, 0.19, 0.14 and 0.12 moles of CH4, CO, CO2, O2 and NH3, respectively. Hydrogen containing gasses; CH4 and NH3; were cracked on the purifier and the resultant elemental hydrogen was released. Only 8 ± 2 scc of H2 were retained on 100 g of St 909 at 800°C. These features suggest that this alloy can be employed as an efficient purifier for hydrogen isotopes in inert gas, nitrogen, or perhaps even H, D, or T streams.