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Role of Fusion Energy in the 21 st Century Farrokh Najmabadi Prof. of Electrical Engineering Director of Center for Energy Research UC San Diego Lehigh University Physics Department Colloquium April 26, 2012
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UCSD Center for Energy Research Staff 90 Graduate Students (PhD) 25 Paid Student Researchers (non-Degree) 15 Annual Research Funding (09-10) $8.5M* Number of Active Grants (09-10) 49 Staff 90 Graduate Students (PhD) 25 Paid Student Researchers (non-Degree) 15 Annual Research Funding (09-10) $8.5M* Number of Active Grants (09-10) 49 Total Funding received (06-10) $40M Number of Journal publications (06-10) 262 Number of Conference papers (06-10) 163 Professional Society Awards 12 Plasma Physics & Fusion Energy Solar Energy (renewable) forecasting & integration Fuel Cells Plasma Physics & Fusion Energy Solar Energy (renewable) forecasting & integration Fuel Cells
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The Energy Challenge Scale: 1 EJ = 10 18 J = 24 Mtoe 1TW = 31.5 EJ/year World energy use ~ 450 EJ/year ~ 14 TW Scale: 1 EJ = 10 18 J = 24 Mtoe 1TW = 31.5 EJ/year World energy use ~ 450 EJ/year ~ 14 TW
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With industrialization of emerging nations, energy use is expected to grow ~ 4 fold in this century (average 1.6% annual growth rate) US Australia Russia Brazil China India S. Korea Mexico Ireland Greece France UK Japan Malaysia Energy use increases with Economic Development Data from IEA World Energy Outlook 2006
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Quality of Life is strongly correlated to energy use. Typical goals: HDI of 0.9 at 3 toe per capita for developing countries. For all developing countries to reach this point, would need world energy use to double with today’s population, or increase 2.6 fold with the 8.1 billion expected in 2030. Typical goals: HDI of 0.9 at 3 toe per capita for developing countries. For all developing countries to reach this point, would need world energy use to double with today’s population, or increase 2.6 fold with the 8.1 billion expected in 2030. HDI: (index reflecting life expectancy at birth + adult literacy & school enrolment + GNP (PPP) per capita)
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World Primary Energy Demand is expect to grow substantially World Energy Demand (Mtoe) Data from IAE World Energy Outlook 2006 Reference (Red) and Alternative (Blue) scenarios. World population is projected to grow from 6.4B (2004) to 8.1B (2030). Scenarios are very sensitive to assumption about China. Data from IAE World Energy Outlook 2006 Reference (Red) and Alternative (Blue) scenarios. World population is projected to grow from 6.4B (2004) to 8.1B (2030). Scenarios are very sensitive to assumption about China.
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Energy supply will be dominated by fossil fuels for the foreseeable future ’04 – ’30 Annual Growth Rate (%) Total 6.5 1.3 2.0 0.7 2.0 1.3 1.8 1.6 Source: IEA World Energy Outlook 2006 (Reference Case ), Business as Usual (BAU) case
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Technologies to meet the energy challenge do not exist Improved efficiency and lower demand Huge scope but demand has always risen faster due to long turn-over time. Renewables Intermittency, cost, environmental impact. Carbon sequestration Requires handling large amounts of C (Emissions to 2050 =2000Gtonne CO 2 ) Fission Fuel cycle and waste disposal Fusion Probably a large contributor in the 2 nd half of the century Improved efficiency and lower demand Huge scope but demand has always risen faster due to long turn-over time. Renewables Intermittency, cost, environmental impact. Carbon sequestration Requires handling large amounts of C (Emissions to 2050 =2000Gtonne CO 2 ) Fission Fuel cycle and waste disposal Fusion Probably a large contributor in the 2 nd half of the century
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Energy Challenge: A Summary Large increases in energy use is expected. IEA world Energy Outlook indicate that it will require increased use of fossil fuels Air pollution & Global Warming Will run out sooner or later Limiting CO 2 to 550ppm by 2050 is an ambitious goal. USDOE: “The technology to generate this amount of emission-free power does not exist.” IEA report: “Achieving a truly sustainable energy system will call for radical breakthroughs that alter how we produce and use energy.” 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. Large increases in energy use is expected. IEA world Energy Outlook indicate that it will require increased use of fossil fuels Air pollution & Global Warming Will run out sooner or later Limiting CO 2 to 550ppm by 2050 is an ambitious goal. USDOE: “The technology to generate this amount of emission-free power does not exist.” IEA report: “Achieving a truly sustainable energy system will call for radical breakthroughs that alter how we produce and use energy.” 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.
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Most of public energy expenditures is in the form of subsidies Coal 44.5% Oil and gas 30% Fusion 1.5% Fission 6% Renewables 18% Energy Subsides (€28B) and R&D (€2B) in the EU Source : EEA, Energy subsidies in the European Union: A brief overview, 2004. Fusion and fission are displayed separately using the IEA government- R&D data base and EURATOM 6th framework programme data Slide from C. Llewellyn Smith, UKAEA
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Fission (seeking a significant fraction of World Energy Consumption of 14TW)
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Nuclear power is already a large contributor to world energy supply Nuclear power provide 8% of world total energy demand (20% of US electricity) Operating reactors in 31 countries 438 nuclear plants generating 353 GWe Half of reactors in US, Japan, and France 104 reactor is US, 69 in France 30 New plants in 12 countries under construction Nuclear power provide 8% of world total energy demand (20% of US electricity) Operating reactors in 31 countries 438 nuclear plants generating 353 GWe Half of reactors in US, Japan, and France 104 reactor is US, 69 in France 30 New plants in 12 countries under construction US Nuclear Electricity (GWh) No new plant in US for more than two decades Increased production due to higher availability 30% of US electricity growth Equivalent to 25 1GW plants Extended license for many plants No new plant in US for more than two decades Increased production due to higher availability 30% of US electricity growth Equivalent to 25 1GW plants Extended license for many plants
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Evolution of Fission Reactors
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Challenges to Long-term viability of fission Economics: Reduced costs Reduced financial risk (especially licensing/construction time) Safety Protection from core damage (reduce likelihood) Eliminate offsite radioactive release potential Sustainability Efficient fuel utilization Waste minimization and management Non-proliferation Economics: Reduced costs Reduced financial risk (especially licensing/construction time) Safety Protection from core damage (reduce likelihood) Eliminate offsite radioactive release potential Sustainability Efficient fuel utilization Waste minimization and management Non-proliferation Reprocessing and Transmutation Gen IV Reactors Reprocessing and Transmutation Gen IV Reactors
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Fusion: Looking into the future ARIES-AT tokamak Power plant
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Brining a Star to Earth DT fusion has the largest cross section and lowest temperature (~100M o C). But, it is still a high-temperature plasma! Plasma should be surrounded by a Li-containing blanket to generate T. Or, DT fusion turns its waste (neutrons) into fuel! Through careful design, only a small fraction of neutrons are absorbed in structure and induce radioactivity. For liquid coolant/breeders (e.g., Li, LiPb), most of fusion energy is directly deposited in the coolant simplifying energy recovery Practically no resource limit (10 11 TWy D; 10 4 (10 8 ) TWy 6 Li) DT fusion has the largest cross section and lowest temperature (~100M o C). But, it is still a high-temperature plasma! Plasma should be surrounded by a Li-containing blanket to generate T. Or, DT fusion turns its waste (neutrons) into fuel! Through careful design, only a small fraction of neutrons are absorbed in structure and induce radioactivity. For liquid coolant/breeders (e.g., Li, LiPb), most of fusion energy is directly deposited in the coolant simplifying energy recovery Practically no resource limit (10 11 TWy D; 10 4 (10 8 ) TWy 6 Li) D + 6 Li 2 4 He + 3.5 MeV (Plasma) + 17 MeV (Blanket) D + T 4 He (3.5 MeV) + n (14 MeV) n + 6 Li 4 He (2 MeV) + T (2.7 MeV) n T
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Fusion Energy Requirements: Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: n E ~ 10 21 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 Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface Developing power extraction technology that can operate in fusion environment Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: n E ~ 10 21 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 Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface Developing power extraction technology that can operate in fusion environment
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Two Approaches to Fusion Power – 1) Inertial Fusion Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) Fast implosion of high-density DT capsules by laser or particle beams (~30 fold radial convergence, heating to fusion temperature). A DT burn front is generated, fusing ~1/3 of fuel (to be demonstrated in National Ignition Facility in Lawrence Livermore National Lab). Several ~300 MJ explosions per second with large gain (fusion power/input power). Inertial Fusion Energy (IFE) Fast implosion of high-density DT capsules by laser or particle beams (~30 fold radial convergence, heating to fusion temperature). A DT burn front is generated, fusing ~1/3 of fuel (to be demonstrated in National Ignition Facility in Lawrence Livermore National Lab). Several ~300 MJ explosions per second with large gain (fusion power/input power).
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Two Approaches to Fusion Power – 2) Magnetic Fusion Rest of the Talk is focused on MFE Magnetic Fusion Energy (MFE) Particles confined within a “toroidal magnetic bottle” for 10’s km and 100’s of collisions per fusion event. Strong magnetic pressure (100’s atm) to confine a low density but high pressure (10’s atm) plasma. At sufficient plasma pressure and “confinement time”, the 4 He power deposited in the plasma sustains fusion condition. Magnetic Fusion Energy (MFE) Particles confined within a “toroidal magnetic bottle” for 10’s km and 100’s of collisions per fusion event. Strong magnetic pressure (100’s atm) to confine a low density but high pressure (10’s atm) plasma. At sufficient plasma pressure and “confinement time”, the 4 He power deposited in the plasma sustains fusion condition.
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Plasma behavior is dominated by “collective” effects Pressure balance (equilibrium) does not guaranty stability. Example: Interchange stability Pressure balance (equilibrium) does not guaranty stability. Example: Interchange stability Impossible to design a “toroidal magnetic bottle” with good curvatures everywhere. Fortunately, because of high speed of particles, an “averaged” good curvature is sufficient. Impossible to design a “toroidal magnetic bottle” with good curvatures everywhere. Fortunately, because of high speed of particles, an “averaged” good curvature is sufficient. Outside part of torus inside part of torus Fluid Interchange Instability
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Tokamak is the most successful concept for plasma confinement R=1.7 m DIII-D, General Atomics Largest US tokamak Many other configurations possible depending on the value and profile of “q” and how it is generated (internally or externally)
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T3 Tokamak achieved the first high temperature (10 M o C) plasma R=1 m 0.06 MA Plasma Current
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JET is currently the largest tokamak in the world R=3 m ITER Burning plasma experiment (under construction) R=6 m
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Progress in plasma confinement has been impressive 500 MW of fusion Power for 300s Construction has started in France 500 MW of fusion Power for 300s Construction has started in France Fusion triple product n (10 21 m -3 ) (s) T(keV) ITER Burning plasma experiment
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Large amount of fusion power has also been produced ITER Burning plasma experiment DT Experiments DD Experiments
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Fusion Energy Requirements: Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: n E ~ 10 21 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 ~ 10 21 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 ITER and Satellite tokamaks (e.g., JT60-SU in Japan) should demonstrate operation of a fusion plasma (and its support technologies) at the power plant scale.
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ITER Device History 1988-1990EU, Japan, USSR, and US conducted the Conceptual Design Activity 1992Engineering Design Activity (EDA) Started 1998Initial EDA ended. US urged rescoring to reduce cost 1998US withdraws from ITER at Congressional Direction. EU, Japan, RF pursue a lower cost design 2001EDA ends 2003US, Korea, and China join ITER 2006Agreement on ITER Site 2009Construction of long-lead time components started 2017?First Plasma 2026?Full power DT experiments 1988-1990EU, Japan, USSR, and US conducted the Conceptual Design Activity 1992Engineering Design Activity (EDA) Started 1998Initial EDA ended. US urged rescoring to reduce cost 1998US withdraws from ITER at Congressional Direction. EU, Japan, RF pursue a lower cost design 2001EDA ends 2003US, Korea, and China join ITER 2006Agreement on ITER Site 2009Construction of long-lead time components started 2017?First Plasma 2026?Full power DT experiments
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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.
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ITER and satellite tokamaks will provide the necessary data for a fusion power plant DIII-D DIII-DITER SimultaneousMax BaselineARIES-AT Major toroidal radius (m) 1.71.76.2 5.2 Plasma Current (MA) 2.253.015 13 Magnetic field (T) 2 25.3 6.0 Electron temperature (keV) 7.5*16*8.9** 18** Ion Temperature (keV) 18*27*8.1** 18** Density (10 20 m -3 ) 1.0*1.7*1.0** 2.2** Confinement time (s) 0.40.53.7 1.7 Normalized confinement, H89 4.54.5 2 2.7 (plasma/magnetic pressure) 6.7%13%2.5% 9.2% Normalized 3.96.01.8 5.4 Fusion Power (MW) 500 1,755 Pulse length300 S.S. DIII-D DIII-DITER SimultaneousMax BaselineARIES-AT Major toroidal radius (m) 1.71.76.2 5.2 Plasma Current (MA) 2.253.015 13 Magnetic field (T) 2 25.3 6.0 Electron temperature (keV) 7.5*16*8.9** 18** Ion Temperature (keV) 18*27*8.1** 18** Density (10 20 m -3 ) 1.0*1.7*1.0** 2.2** Confinement time (s) 0.40.53.7 1.7 Normalized confinement, H89 4.54.5 2 2.7 (plasma/magnetic pressure) 6.7%13%2.5% 9.2% Normalized 3.96.01.8 5.4 Fusion Power (MW) 500 1,755 Pulse length300 S.S. * Peak value, **Average Value
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Fusion Energy Requirements: Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: n E ~ 10 21 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 ~ 10 21 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
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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
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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)
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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. 49-50 (2000) 709 Carnot =1-T reject /T high Structural Material Operating Temperature Windows: 10-50 dpa
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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
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Design leads to a LiPb Outlet Temperature of 1,100 o C While Keeping SiC Temperature Below 1,000 o C Two-pass PbLi flow, first pass to cool SiC f /SiC box second pass to superheat PbLi Bottom Top PbLi Outlet Temp. = 1100 °C Max. SiC/PbLi Interf. Temp. = 994 °C Max. SiC/SiC Temp. = 996°C PbLi Inlet Temp. = 764 °C
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Managing the plasma material interface is challenging Alpha power and alpha ash has to eventually leave the plasma Particle and energy flux on the material surrounding the plasma Modern tokomaks use divertors: Closed flux surfaces containing hot core plasma Open flux surfaces containing cold plasma diverted away from the first wall. Particle flux on the first wall is reduced, heat flux on the first wall is mainly due to radiation (bremsstrahlung, synchrotron, etc.) Alpha ash is pumped out in the divertor region High heat and particle fluxes on the divertor plates. Alpha power and alpha ash has to eventually leave the plasma Particle and energy flux on the material surrounding the plasma Modern tokomaks use divertors: Closed flux surfaces containing hot core plasma Open flux surfaces containing cold plasma diverted away from the first wall. Particle flux on the first wall is reduced, heat flux on the first wall is mainly due to radiation (bremsstrahlung, synchrotron, etc.) Alpha ash is pumped out in the divertor region High heat and particle fluxes on the divertor plates. First Wall Confined plasma Separatrix Edge Plasma Divertor plates Flux surface
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Several Gad-cooled W divertor Concepts has been produced. EU finger : 2.6 cm diameter Impinging multi-jet cooling Allowable heat flux >10 MW/m 2 ~535,000 units for a power plant Plate : 20 cm x 100 cm Impinging slot-jet cooling Allowable heat flux ~10 MW/m 2 ~750 units for a power plant Re (/10 4 ) Nu p / Nu Mass flow rate [g/s] Pp* / P *Pp* / P * Nominal operating condition Thermal hydraulic experiments confirm very high heat transfer for slot jet cooling H > 50 kW/(m 2 K) is possible Thermal hydraulic experiments confirm very high heat transfer for slot jet cooling H > 50 kW/(m 2 K) is possible
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The ARIES-AT utilizes an efficient superconducting magnet design On-axis toroidal field:6 T Peak field at TF coil:11.4 T TF Structure: Caps and straps support loads without inter-coil structure; On-axis toroidal field:6 T Peak field at TF coil:11.4 T TF Structure: Caps and straps support loads without inter-coil structure; Superconducting Material Either LTC superconductor (Nb 3 Sn and NbTi) or HTC Structural Plates with grooves for winding only the conductor. Superconducting Material Either LTC superconductor (Nb 3 Sn and NbTi) or HTC Structural Plates with grooves for winding only the conductor.
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After 100 years, only 10,000 Curies of radioactivity remain in the 585 tonne ARIES-RS fusion core. After 100 years, only 10,000 Curies of radioactivity remain in the 585 tonne ARIES-RS fusion core. SiC composites lead to a very low activation and afterheat. All components of ARIES-AT qualify for Class-C disposal under NRC and Fetter Limits. 90% of components qualify for Class-A waste. SiC composites lead to a very low activation and afterheat. All components of ARIES-AT qualify for Class-C disposal under NRC and Fetter Limits. 90% of components qualify for Class-A waste. Ferritic Steel Vanadium Radioactivity levels in fusion power plants are very low and decay rapidly after shutdown Level in Coal Ash
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Waste volume is not large 1270 m 3 of Waste is generated after 40 full-power year (FPY) of operation. Coolant is reused in other power plants 29 m 3 every 4 years (component replacement), 993 m 3 at end of service Equivalent to ~ 30 m 3 of waste per FPY Effective annual waste can be reduced by increasing plant service life. 1270 m 3 of Waste is generated after 40 full-power year (FPY) of operation. Coolant is reused in other power plants 29 m 3 every 4 years (component replacement), 993 m 3 at end of service Equivalent to ~ 30 m 3 of waste per FPY Effective annual waste can be reduced by increasing plant service life. 90% of waste qualifies for Class A disposal
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Advances in fusion science & technology has dramatically improved our vision of fusion power plants Estimated Cost of Electricity (c/kWh)Major radius (m)
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In Summary, …
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In a CO 2 constrained world uncertainty abounds No carbon-neutral commercial energy technology is available today. Carbon sequestration is the determining factor for fossil fuel electric generation. A large investment in energy R&D is needed. A shift to a hydrogen economy or carbon-neutral syn-fuels is also needed to allow continued use of liquid fuels for transportation. Problem cannot be solved by legislation or subsidy. We need technical solutions. Technical Communities should be involved or considerable public resources would be wasted The size of energy market ($1T annual sale, TW of power) is huge. Solutions should fit this size market 100 Nuclear plants = 20% of electricity production $50B annual R&D represents 5% of energy sale No carbon-neutral commercial energy technology is available today. Carbon sequestration is the determining factor for fossil fuel electric generation. A large investment in energy R&D is needed. A shift to a hydrogen economy or carbon-neutral syn-fuels is also needed to allow continued use of liquid fuels for transportation. Problem cannot be solved by legislation or subsidy. We need technical solutions. Technical Communities should be involved or considerable public resources would be wasted The size of energy market ($1T annual sale, TW of power) is huge. Solutions should fit this size market 100 Nuclear plants = 20% of electricity production $50B annual R&D represents 5% of energy sale
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Status of fusion power Over 15 MW of fusion power is generated (JET, 1997) establishing “scientific feasibility” of fusion power Although fusion power < input power. ITER will demonstrate “technical feasibility” of fusion power by generating copious amount of fusion power (500MW for 300s) with fusion power > 10 input power. Tremendous progress in understanding plasmas has helped optimize plasma performance considerably. Vision of attractive fusion power plants exists. Transformation of fusion into a power plant requires considerable R&D in material and fusion nuclear technologies (largely ignored or under-funded to date). This step, however, can be done in parallel with ITER Large synergy between fusion nuclear technology R&D and Gen-IV. Over 15 MW of fusion power is generated (JET, 1997) establishing “scientific feasibility” of fusion power Although fusion power < input power. ITER will demonstrate “technical feasibility” of fusion power by generating copious amount of fusion power (500MW for 300s) with fusion power > 10 input power. Tremendous progress in understanding plasmas has helped optimize plasma performance considerably. Vision of attractive fusion power plants exists. Transformation of fusion into a power plant requires considerable R&D in material and fusion nuclear technologies (largely ignored or under-funded to date). This step, however, can be done in parallel with ITER Large synergy between fusion nuclear technology R&D and Gen-IV.
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Thank You
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