Conceptual Development of Steady-state Compact Fusion Neutron Sources
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In preparation.
Integrated Approach to Safety Classification of Mechanical Components for Fusion Applications
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In preparation.
This publication presents experimental simulations of plasma-surface interaction phenomena at extreme conditions as expected in a fusion reactor, using dedicated test bed devices such as dense plasma focus, particle accelerators, plasma accelerators and plasma guns. It includes the investigation of the mechanism of material damage during transient heat loads on materials and addresses, in particular, the performance and adequacy of tungsten as plasma facing material for the next step fusion devices, such as ITER and fusion demonstration power plants. The publication is a compilation of the main results and findings of an IAEA coordinated research project on investigations on materials under high repetition and intense fusion pulses, conducted in the period 2011–2016 and provides a practical knowledge base for scientists and engineers carrying out activities in the plasma-material surface interaction area.
Small magnetic confinement fusion devices have played and continue to play an important role in fusion research. Thanks to their compactness, flexibility and low operation costs, they can support scientific and technology developments, modelling analysis, and training and education. This publication presents the outcome of an IAEA coordinated research project on utilisation of a network of small magnetic confinement fusion devices for mainstream fusion research and reports on the research work accomplished within the framework of the project. It presents the contribution of these devices in research in a wide range of areas such as plasma confinement and energy transport, plasma stability in different magnetic configurations, plasma turbulence and its impact on local and global plasma parameters, processes at the plasma edge and plasma-wall interaction, scenarios with additional heating and non-inductive current drive.
Following their indispensable role in the qualification of materials for fission nuclear systems, research reactors can provide numerous services for fusion research until the construction of dedicated fusion testing facilities, and afterwards to support complementary research related to fusion materials research, related nuclear data measurements and additional material qualification. Research reactors of all designs and power ratings can contribute in the advancement of fusion research, therefore this field promises enhanced research reactor utilization as well as long term cooperation with academia and the fusion community. This publication details the role of research reactors in fusion research from fundamental studies to collaborative efforts by fission and fusion communities. Focusing on materials science and engineering, within the larger scheme of fusion energy development, the publication then proceeds through the stages of testing and qualification. It also includes conclusions regarding the future of fusion research, synergy between fission and fusion technologies, and the views on past and ongoing efforts.
This CD-ROM publication is a collection of materials presented at the 5th International Conference on the Frontiers of Plasma Physics and Technology, which took place 18–22 April 2011 in Singapore. The materials describe the recent progress and future foreseen research topics in plasma physics. The aim is to disseminate information on current trends in research and development, technology and applications.
This publication presents the results of an IAEA coordinated research project (CRP) on dense magnetized plasma (DMP) applications in nuclear fusion technology. DMP devices are used in the testing of fusion relevant materials, diagnostics development and calibration and in developing technologies and scaling to conceptual principles of larger devices. The specific research objectives of this CRP were to support mainstream fusion research and the development of dense magnetized plasma technology. The resulting publication is a compilation of the individual reports submitted by the 12 CRP participants, describing the research work undertaken as well as further expected, important spin-off applications of DMP devices.
Nuclear energy from inertial fusion is clean, safe and abundant, and therefore has the potential to develop into a viable option in any given energy portfolio. This publication presents the results and achievements of an IAEA coordinated research project on this topic. The project brought together experts from 16 institutions in 14 Member States to address issues relevant to advancing inertial fusion energy research and development towards practical applications. Key issues discussed include beam–plasma matter interactions, drivers options and technology as well as target fabrication technology, and inertial fusion power plant and integration.
This publication presents results achieved within an IAEA coordinated research project on dense magnetized plasmas (DMPs) with respect to the needs of plasma research in developed and developing IAEA Member States. Of specific interest is the improvement of experimental set-ups for DMPs, including new ideas on drivers, chambers and targets, interface issues and plasma–wall interactions. Better understanding of discharge physics and control, improved theory and numerical modelling using various codes are reported. Important issues are diagnostics development, materials testing and development, and post-irradiation materials diagnostics and analysis. This publication illustrates the speed of progress in DMP applications facilitated by the sharing of knowledge, staffing and costs, and the promotion of technology transfer among Member States and issues relating to knowledge preservation. It also reports the main conclusions and recommendations from the experts’ meeting and will serve as a useful resource for fusion scientists, fusion engineers, plasma physicists and material science physicists.
The outline of the issues discussed at the Third IAEA Technical Meeting on Physics and Technology of Inertial Fusion Energy Targets, Chambers and Drivers are summarized in this publication. It is expected that new megajoule laser facilities which are under construction in the USA and France will demonstrate fusion ignition and burn, and, in around 2010–2015, gain of energy. This will be an epoch making achievement in the history of fusion energy development, which will provide a real means to solve the future energy and environmental problems of the world. A strategic approach towards the final goal, namely fusion energy production for humanity on a commercial basis, is now required. An inertial fusion energy (IFE) power plant and its development are based on a large number of advanced concepts and technologies, such as drivers, target fabrication and injection and the reaction chamber and remaining system. The separability of IFE power plant systems means that these concepts and technologies can be developed semi-independently and later assembled to form a system.
There are two major approaches in fusion energy research, magnetic fusion energy (MFE) and inertial fusion energy (IFE). The basic physics of IFE (compression and ignition of small fuel pellets containing deuterium and tritium) is becoming increasingly well understood. On the basis of advances by individual countries, IFE has reached a stage at which benefits could be obtained. This report is focused on interface issues including those related to (i) the driver/target interface, (ii) the driver/chamber interface and (iii) the target/chamber interface. The report includes an assessment of the state of the art of the technologies required for an IFE power plant (drivers, chambers and targets) and systems integration as presented and evaluated by members of the IAEA Coordinated Research Project on elements of power plant design for inertial fusion energy.
The first IAEA Technical Committee Meeting (TCM) on Steady State Operation of Tokamaks was organized to discuss the operations of present long-pulse tolamaks (TRIAM-1M, TORE SUPRA, MT-7, HT-7M, HL-1M) and the plans for future staedy-state tokamaks such as SST-1, CIEL, and HT-7U. There were 18 individual presentations plus general discussions on many topics, including superconducting magnet systems, cryogenics, plasma position control, non-inductive current drive, auxiliary heating, plasma-wall interactions, high heat flux component, particle control, and data acquisition.
As part of its role in promoting peaceful uses of nuclear technology, the IAEA has, under the guidance of the International Fusion Research Council, carried out a programme of information exchange on the subject of inertial fusion energy (IFE) research. A series of IAEA consultants meetings was held from 1991 to 1994 to organize the writing of a comprehensive introductory book on inertial fusion by 80 experts from around the world. That book, Energy from Inertial Fusion, was published by the IAEA in 1995. Subsequently, a series of four IAEA consultants meetings was held to help the IAEA keep abreast of current IFE developments and to suggest future programme plans. This TECDOC is based on the final consultants report and contains a summary of the state of the art of IFE research in 17 countries. The sections on individual countries were sent to the governments for their comments, which have been incorporated into the present publication.
The technical reports in these proceedings were presented at the IAEA Technical Committee Meeting on Research Using Small Tokamaks, held in Ahmedabad, India, 6-7 December 1995. The purpose of this annual meeting is to provide a forum for the exchange of information on various small and medium sized plasma experiments, not only tokamaks. This TECDOC includes the individual research papers (or in a few cases the abstracts) and a summary that was published in Nuclear Fusion 36 1425-1429 (1996). A broad spectrum of papers was presented, both theoretical and experimental. Some interesting new results (such as from START) and techniques (such as neural network analysis of tomographic data) were reported.
International collaboration continues on work aimed at the demonstration of fusion power generation. Such work also comprises a substantial amount of studies on fusion safety aspects of future power reactors. Good co-ordination of these efforts is vital for an optimum utilization of available resources and for the success of an undertaking that covers such a wide spectrum of research and development objectives and activities. The Technical Committee identified high priority fusion safety research and development needs. Additional work leading to an evaluation of the status of the issues identified was subsequently performed by participants in their home laboratories and individual chapters of the report presented here were prepared.
The INTOR Workshop - a collaborative effort among Euratom, Japan, the USA and the USSR - makes its attempt to find ways of solving the existing problems and sufficiently improving the tokamak concept in order to meet the requirements of a tokamak-based fusion test reactor. The International Fusion Research Council (IFRC) recommended that the INTOR Workshop analyze the submitted innovative ideas with the aim of an evaluation of their final feasibility and, if it applies, the possibility of their incorporation into the already near-term tokamak project. This task was the main objective of the IAEA Specialists' Meeting on Tokamak Concept Innovations held 13-17 January 1986 in Vienna, Austria. The results of this INTOR-related meeting were highly appreciated by the IFRC and recommended to be published as an IAEA TECDOC to provide the fusion specialists with the material which defines the main directions of ongoing and future activities in the field.
The purpose of the IEAE Advisory Group Meeting on the Technology of Inertial Confinement Experiments was to review the progress in the research of inertial confinement system, to discuss new ideas in conceptual designs of fusion reactors and particular engineering problems of experiments on inertial confinement. Considerable progress was reported at the meeting in both laser fusion and relativistic electron-beam fusion experimrnts. The most important results, conclusions and recommendatios of the meeting are reproduced here. A selected numbers of original papers prepared by the participants are included in this report. The meeting demonstrated the importance to fusion research of the exchange of information between scientists from major laboratories thoughout the world.
