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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.
U. Fischer et al.
Fusion Science and Technology | Volume 56 | Number 2 | August 2009 | Pages 702-709
Nuclear Analysis | Eighteenth Topical Meeting on the Technology of Fusion Energy (Part 2) | doi.org/10.13182/FST09-A8991
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
An extensive benchmark exercise has been conducted on ITER with the objective to test and validate different approaches for the use of CAD generated geometry data for Monte Carlo transport calculations with the MCNP code. The exercise encompassed the generation of a dedicated neutronics CATIA model based on available engineering CAD design data, the conversion into MCNP geometry, the verification of the converted models, and a number of calculations to compare the different approaches with regard to the performance and the validity of the results obtained. The paper briefly reviews the different approaches and provides a detailed description of the ITER benchmark effort, its results and conclusions showing that the approaches have reached the maturity level to allow their application to real ITER design analyses. This is considered an essential step forward for neutronics analysis tools to satisfy ITER quality assurance rules.