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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.
A. Kochetkov, A. Krása, N. Messaoudi, G. Vittiglio, J. Wagemans, A. Bailly, A. Billebaud, S. Chabod, F.-R. Lecolley, J.-L. Lecouey, G. Lehaut, N. Marie
Nuclear Science and Engineering | Volume 197 | Number 8 | August 2023 | Pages 1952-1960
Technical papers from: PHYSOR 2022 | doi.org/10.1080/00295639.2022.2146429
Articles are hosted by Taylor and Francis Online.
The Source Jerk Integral (SJI) method has been extensively used to determine the subcriticality in VENUS-F zero-power experiments since 2012. The obtained results were in the range from −5 $ to about −20 $ and concerned the subcriticalities of accelerator-driven system MYRRHA mockup cores. Within the SALMON program, which is dedicated to the safe loading procedure of pressurized power reactors, five subcritical core configurations were assembled and studied in the VENUS-F reactor in 2019. These cores simulated the loading process in inverse mode: from more reactive to deep subcritical. The subcriticality of five variants of the SC11 VENUS-F core was changed in steps from −20 $ to about −100 $ by replacing the fuel assemblies with lead reflector assemblies. The subcriticality levels were determined with the pulsed neutron source (PNS) and SJI methods. The GENEPI-3C deuterium accelerator coupled with VENUS-F was used as an external neutron source. The results of the measurements obtained with the SJI method are presented in this paper. Time-dependent Monte Carlo calculations were performed to simulate the SJI experiments and to determine spatial-energy correction factors. Static Monte Carlo simulations were performed to calculate neutron spectra and reactivity. The results of the measurements (both SJI and PNS) are compared with the static MCNP calculations.