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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.
C. A. Gentile, S. Raftopoulos, P. LaMarche, M. Viola, T. Walters, M. Kalish, T. Kozub, H. Carnevale, D. Shaltis, S. Vinson, W. Walker, L. Ciebiera, R. Yager, M. Quigley, R. Meagher, C. Bunting, E. Rogers, M. Casey, R. Hawes, R. Raucci, D. Reeves, E Amarescu, M. Gibson, T. Granger, S. Langish, S. Bush, J. Langford, D. Hyatt, J. L. Anderson
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 30 | Number 3 | December 1996 | Pages 1564-1566
Safety and Environment | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963173
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor which is the progenitor for full D-T operating tokamaks has successfully processed > 81 grams of tritium in a safe and efficient fashion. Many of the fundamental operational techniques associated with the safe movement of tritium through the TFTR facility were developed over the course of many years at DOE tritium facilities (LANL, LLNL, SRS, Mound). In the mid 1980's The Tritium Systems Test Assembly (TSTA) at LANL began reporting operational techniques for the safe handling of tritium, and became a major conduit for the transfer of safe tritium handling technology from DOE weapons laboratories to non-weapon facilities. TFTR has built on many of the TSTA operational techniques and has had the opportunity of performing and enhancing these techniques at America's first operational D-T fusion reactor. This paper will discuss negative pressure employing “elephant trunks” in the control and mitigation of tritium contamination at the TFTR facility, and the interaction between contaminated line operations and Δ pressure control. In addition the strategy employed in managing the movement of tritium through TFTR while maintaining an active tritium inventory of < 50,000 Ci will be discussed.