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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.
Kazuyuki Takase, Tomoaki Kunugi, Yasushi Seki
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 30 | Number 3 | December 1996 | Pages 1459-1464
Safety and Environment | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963154
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
As one of thermofluid safety studies in ITER, buoyancy-driven exchange flow behavior through breaches of the vacuum vessel was investigated quantitatively using a preliminary LOVA (Loss Of VAcuum event) apparatus which simulated the Tokamak vacuum vessel of a fusion reactor with a small-scaled model. Helium gas and air were used as the working fluids. Experimental parameters were breach position, breach number, breach length, breach diameter, breach combination and the wall temperature of the VV. The present study showed that the relationship between the exchange rate and time depended on the magnitude of the potential energy from the ground level to the breach position and the wall temperature of the vacuum vessel. The exchange rate decreased as the breach length increased and the breach diameter decreased.