PPPL-4837
Mission and Readiness Assessment for Fusion Nuclear Facilities
Authors: G.H. Neilson, et. al.
Abstract:
Magnetic fusion development toward DEMO will
most likely require a number of fusion nuclear facilities
(FNF), intermediate between ITER and DEMO, to test
and validate plasma and nuclear technologies and to
advance the level of system integration. The FNF mission
space is wide, ranging from basic materials research to
net electricity demonstration, so there is correspondingly
a choice among machine options, scope, and risk in
planning such a step. Readiness requirements to proceed
with a DEMO are examined, and two FNF options are
assessed in terms of the contributions they would make to
closing DEMO readiness gaps, and their readiness to
themselves proceed with engineering design about ten
years from now. An advanced tokamak (AT) pilot plant
with superconducting coils and a mission to demonstrate
net electricity generation would go a long way toward
DEMO. As a next step, however, a pilot plant would
entail greater risk than a copper-coil FNSF-AT with its
more focussed mission and technology requirements. The
stellarator path to DEMO is briefly discussed. Regardless
of the choice of FNF option, an accompanying science
and technology development program, also aimed at
DEMO readiness, is absolutely essential.
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Submitted to: Fusion Science and Technology, (December 2012) Presented at: TOFE Conference, Nashville, TN Aug 27-31, 2012
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Download PPPL-4837 (pdf 601 KB 10 pp)
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