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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. Huguet, R. J. Thome, K. Okuno, N. Mitchell
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 30 | Number 3 | December 1996 | Pages 1241-1247
Fusion Magnet Systems | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963118
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
In the six-year Engineering Design Activity (EDA) for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)1, some of the major R&D tasks are in the model coil program. One Central Solenoid (CS) and one Toroidal Field (TF) model coil are being designed and manufactured under the collaboration of the European Union, Japan, the Russian Federation and the USA. Both coils will demonstrate the manufacturing technology required for the full-scale coil systems and the CS model coil will be the largest 13 T superconducting system ever built (640 MJ). Forced-flow cooled superconductors are being manufactured in a shared effort by the four ITER Parties for the various stages of fabrication, that is, Nb3Sn superconducting strand production, cabling, jacket material manufacture, and jacketing of conductors. The coils will be tested in two separate facilities with participation by all Parties. Component R&D is also underway in areas such as conductor and joint performance, jacket and insulation material properties, and manufacturing processes for large steel structure fabrication. This paper summarizes the status of the program.