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Magnetic Nuclear Fusion in Tokamaks
Published in Sergei Sharapov, Energetic Particles in Tokamak Plasmas, 2021
Fusion plasmas heated by some auxiliary heating systems, in addition to the alpha particles, are called “burning” plasmas. The role of auxiliary heating is the control of plasma burn in addition to the control of D and T fuelling. This could be a more effective option for controlling non-linear exothermal plasma self-heating by fusion-born alpha particles.
The New Energy Reality
Published in Anco S. Blazev, Energy Security for The 21st Century, 2021
The ITER Agreement, signed in 2006 between the EU (via the Euratom Treaty) and six other countries including Japan, Russia and the USA, was heralded as a major step forward. This will see the construction of the ITER fusion reactor to demonstrate the technical and scientific feasibility of a “burning” plasma on the scale of a power plant.
Foreword
Published in Fusion Science and Technology, 2021
The present environment for fusion energy development is one with increasing momentum. As ITER prepares for first plasma and ultimately burning plasma operations, demonstration power plants and next-step pilot plants are in early design phases around the world, and fusion enterprises continue to emerge targeting a wide range of configuration approaches. New confinement facilities have come on line, with the Wendelstein 7-X and JT-60 Super Advanced (JT-60SA). A new drive is provided by the impact of climate change and the search for ways to mitigate its continued progression. Recent fusion community and advisory committee reports in the United States have developed a consensus view that now is the time to shift from a science focus to energy development, something not seen since the 1980s.
Alternative Plasma-Facing-Material Concepts for Extreme Plasma-Burning Nuclear Fusion Environments
Published in Fusion Science and Technology, 2019
Tungsten is a highly attractive plasma-facing material (PFM) for next-generation burning plasma magnetic thermonuclear fusion devices and the primary materials selected as the plasma-facing-component (PFC) armor material. Burning plasma devices such as ITER and reactor-level energy-producing fusion devices like the DEMOnstration nuclear fusion reactor (DEMO) are envisioned to provide a roadmap toward 1000-MW(electric)–sized fusion power plants. An alternative to these next-step devices is compact nuclear fusion systems proposed to provide fusion energy by applying magnetic and/or electric confinement configurations. These reactors will be designed to put about 100 to 300 MW(electric) on the grid and have development times of roughly 15 to 20 years, urging reactor-ready PFC material development in shorter timescales to meet the expected demand. In particular, refractory metals such as tungsten are receiving significant attention as a possible viable material for steady-state, high-temperature (700°C to 1000°C) operation with heat fluxes between 10 and 20 MW/m2. Major challenges of solid refractory metals in future fusion energy burning plasmas is the large production of helium ash and erosion/redeposition of large quantities of reactor wall material.