Fusion: Bringing star power to earth Farrokh Najmabadi Prof. of Electrical Engineering Director of Center for Energy Research UC San Diego NES Grand Challenges Summit Raleigh, North Carolina March 4-5, 2010

World uses (& needs) a lot of energy!  World Primary Energy consumption is 14 TW (2004) Equivalent to ~0.5 EJ or 11.2 Billion Ton of Oil Equivalent pa World energy [electricity] market ~ $4.5 trillion [$1.5 trillion] pa  World energy use is expected to grow 50% by Growth is necessary in developing countries to lift billions of people out of poverty  80% of world energy is from burning fossil fuels  World Primary Energy consumption is 14 TW (2004) Equivalent to ~0.5 EJ or 11.2 Billion Ton of Oil Equivalent pa World energy [electricity] market ~ $4.5 trillion [$1.5 trillion] pa  World energy use is expected to grow 50% by Growth is necessary in developing countries to lift billions of people out of poverty  80% of world energy is from burning fossil fuels Conditions for Sustainability : Large supply of the energy resource (TW scale) Acceptable land/resource usage Minimal by-product stream Economically feasible technology Conditions for Sustainability : Large supply of the energy resource (TW scale) Acceptable land/resource usage Minimal by-product stream Economically feasible technology Fusion Engineering Grand Challenge

Fusion Energy Requirements:  Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: n  E ~ s/m 3  Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million o C (routinely done in present experiments)  Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower- power lasers (IFE)  Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in fusion environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface  Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: n  E ~ s/m 3  Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million o C (routinely done in present experiments)  Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower- power lasers (IFE)  Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in fusion environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface

Fusion Energy Requirements:  Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: n  E ~ s/m 3  Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million o C (routinely done in present experiments)  Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower- power lasers (IFE)  Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in fusion environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface  Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: n  E ~ s/m 3  Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million o C (routinely done in present experiments)  Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower- power lasers (IFE)  Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in fusion environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface

We have made tremendous progress in optimizing fusion plasmas  Substantial improvement in plasma performance though optimization of plasma shape, profiles, and feedback. Achieving plasma stability at high plasma pressure. Achieving improved plasma confinement through suppression of plasma turbulence, the “transport barrier.” Progress toward steady-state operation through minimization of power needed to maintain plasma current through profile control. Controlling the boundary layer between plasma and vessel wall to avoid localized particle and heat loads.  Substantial improvement in plasma performance though optimization of plasma shape, profiles, and feedback. Achieving plasma stability at high plasma pressure. Achieving improved plasma confinement through suppression of plasma turbulence, the “transport barrier.” Progress toward steady-state operation through minimization of power needed to maintain plasma current through profile control. Controlling the boundary layer between plasma and vessel wall to avoid localized particle and heat loads.

Fusion Energy Requirements:  Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: n  E ~ s/m 3  Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million o C (routinely done in present experiments)  Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower-power lasers (IFE)  Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in fusion environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface  Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: n  E ~ s/m 3  Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million o C (routinely done in present experiments)  Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower-power lasers (IFE)  Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in fusion environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface

First wall and blanket System is subject to a harsh environment Environment: Surface heat flux (due to X-ray and ions) First wall erosion by ions. Radiation damage by neutrons (e.g. structural material) Volumetric heating by neutrons in the blanket. MHD effects Functions: Tritium breeding management Maximize power recovery and coolant outlet temperature for maximum thermal efficiency Constraints: Simple manufacturing technique Safety (low afterheat and activity) Environment: Surface heat flux (due to X-ray and ions) First wall erosion by ions. Radiation damage by neutrons (e.g. structural material) Volumetric heating by neutrons in the blanket. MHD effects Functions: Tritium breeding management Maximize power recovery and coolant outlet temperature for maximum thermal efficiency Constraints: Simple manufacturing technique Safety (low afterheat and activity) Outboard blanket & first wall x ray Neutrons ions

New structural material should be developed for fusion application  Fe-9Cr steels: builds upon 9Cr-1Mo industrial experience and materials database  (9-12 Cr ODS steels are a higher temperature future option)  SiC/SiC: High risk, high performance option (early in its development path)  W alloys: High performance option for PFCs (early in its development path)  Fe-9Cr steels: builds upon 9Cr-1Mo industrial experience and materials database  (9-12 Cr ODS steels are a higher temperature future option)  SiC/SiC: High risk, high performance option (early in its development path)  W alloys: High performance option for PFCs (early in its development path)

Irradiation leads to a operating temperature window for material  Additional considerations such as He embrittlement and chemical compatibility may impose further restrictions on operating window Radiation embrittlement Thermal creep Zinkle and Ghoniem, Fusion Engr. Des (2000) 709  Carnot =1-T reject /T high Structural Material Operating Temperature Windows: dpa

Several blanket Concepts have been developed  Simple, low pressure design with SiC structure and LiPb coolant and breeder.  Innovative design leads to high LiPb outlet temperature (~1,100 o C) while keeping SiC structure temperature below 1,000 o C leading to a high thermal efficiency of ~ 60%.  Simple, low pressure design with SiC structure and LiPb coolant and breeder.  Innovative design leads to high LiPb outlet temperature (~1,100 o C) while keeping SiC structure temperature below 1,000 o C leading to a high thermal efficiency of ~ 60%.  Dual coolant with a self-cooled PbLi zone, He-cooled RAFS structure and SiC insert  Flow configuration allows for a coolant outlet temperature to be higher than maximum structure temperature

How to meet the Fusion Challenge  National Will & Resources Public funding of energy research is down 50% since 1980 (in real term). World energy R&D expenditure is 0.25% of energy market of $4.5 trillion. Stable Funding  Man Power: Training next generation of engineers  Focusing on Fusion Energy Mission Science-based Engineering  National Will & Resources Public funding of energy research is down 50% since 1980 (in real term). World energy R&D expenditure is 0.25% of energy market of $4.5 trillion. Stable Funding  Man Power: Training next generation of engineers  Focusing on Fusion Energy Mission Science-based Engineering We can do it!

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