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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.
Yasushi Seki, Isao Aoki, Naoki Yamano, Takashi Tabara
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 30 | Number 3 | December 1996 | Pages 1624-1630
Fusion Power Plants and Economics | doi.org/10.13182/FST96-A11963183
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
As a future power producing system, a fusion reactor needs to be superior in environmental safety and economics aspects. Hence the environmental and economic impact of radioactive waste (radwaste) from fusion power reactor should be evaluated. The activation level, decay heat, volume of radwaste generated during operation and at decommissioning, are evaluated for fusion power reactors having five types of structural materials. The structural materials selected are a low activation ferritic steel F82H, austenitic steel SS 316, TiA1 intermetallic compound, SiC/SiC composite with impurities and one without impurities. Possible radwaste disposal scenario of fusion radwaste in Japan is considered. It is found that radwaste from fusion reactors using F82H and SiC/SiC composites without impurities could be disposed by the shallow land disposal presently applied to low level waste in Japan. The remaining fusion radwaste which do not qualify as the low level waste could be disposed by geological disposal at the depth greater than 50 m from the surface.