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Latest News
Playing the “bad guy” to enhance next-generation safety
Sometimes, cops and robbers is more than just a kid’s game. At the Department of Energy’s national laboratories, researchers are channeling their inner saboteurs to discover vulnerabilities in next-generation nuclear reactors, making sure that they’re as safe as possible before they’re even constructed.
Neill P. Taylor
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 47 | Number 4 | May 2005 | Pages 959-966
Technical Paper | Fusion Energy - Tritium, Safety, and Environment | doi.org/10.13182/FST05-A812
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
Studies of the safety and environmental impacts of fusion, both of future power plants and of ITER, have shown that a good performance can be achieved. Although it is difficult to anticipate the regulatory regime in which future fusion power stations will be licensed, the areas of public and occupational safety and short and long-term environmental impact are likely to remain important. In each of these areas, the outcome of various studies have been reviewed, leading to a list of issues which should be given attention to facilitate eventual licensing of a fusion power plant. Many of these relate to reducing conservatisms and uncertainties in the analyses, but also included are improved understanding of tritium retention and of dust generation, and development of materials to provide long component lifetimes. A full appraisal is also recommended of the viability of recycling of active materials after end of plant life.