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Fusion Science and Technology
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WIPP: Lessons in transportation safety
As part of a future consent-based approach by the federal government to site new deep geologic repositories for nuclear waste, local communities and states that are considering hosting such facilities are sure to have many questions. Currently, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico is the only example of such a repository in operation, and it offers the opportunity for state and local officials to visit and judge for themselves the risks and benefits of hosting a similar facility. But its history can also provide lessons for these officials, particularly the political process leading up to the opening of WIPP, the safety of WIPP operations and transportation of waste from generator facilities to the site, and the economic impacts the project has had on the local area of Carlsbad, as well as the rest of the state of New Mexico.
G. H. Neilson, D. B. Batchelor, M. D. Carter, J. D. Galambos, E. A. Lazarus, D. W. Swain, C. C. Tsai, N. A. Uckan, R. J. Goldston, C. E. Kessel, D. R. Mikkelsen, W. Reiersen, J. A. Schmidt, R. H. Bulmer, D. N. Hill, W. M. Nevins, P.-W. Wang
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 30 | Number 3 | December 1996 | Pages 1261-1265
Steady-State and Long-Pulse Machine Studies | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963121
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The physics capabilities of an ignition-and-moderate-burn tokamak to explore the physics of burning plasmas and bum control on ash accumulation time scales are described. The machine provides physics capabilities comparable to those of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) for pulse lengths up to 120 s, but lacks the nuclear component testing, superconducting magnet technology, and long-pulse aspects of ITER's mission. Strong plasma shaping is adopted to reduce the cost relative to ITER. Using ITER guidelines to evaluate the physics performance, this machine has the same ignition margin as ITER's, and operates within the limits on beta, density (i.e., the Greenwald density limit), and safety-factor specified in the ITER physics guidelines. Acceptable peak heat fluxes to divertor target surfaces are maintained with an attached, high-recycling divertor operating scenario typical of present-day machines. A range of ignited and driven operating modes is available, including advanced modes prototypical of steady-state tokamak operation.