Magnetic fusion energy: Status and challenges

7/31/2019 Magnetic fusion energy: Status and challenges

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Magne&c fusion energyStatus and challenges

Stewart PragerPrinceton Plasma Physics Laboratory


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The Sun is a natural fusion reactor

A hot gas of billions of par&cles a PLASMAPar&cles undergo nuclear fusion reac&ons


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The Sun is a natural fusion reactor

A hot gas of billions of par&cles a PLASMAPar&cles undergo nuclear fusion reac&ons

Temperature in sun10 million degrees

Fusion reactor100 million degrees

Surrounded by material


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It required the development of the new eld ofplasma physics

Fusion energy is one of the most difficult science andengineering challenges ever undertaken

Accompanied by the development offusion engineering

We have come very far along the path


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The fusion reac&on

energy 1 1deuterium + tri&um helium + neutron


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The fusion reac&on

energy 1 1deuterium + tri&um helium + neutron

Hot gas of charged par&cles(PLASMA)

At temperature of 100 million degrees C

need many D and T nuclei moving rapidly


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Why fusion? Nearly inexhaus&ble

Deuterium from sea water, Tri&um made from lithium

Available to all na&onsreduced conict over resources

Cleanno greenhouse gases, no acid rain

Safeno runaway reac&ons or meltdown;only short-lived radioac&ve waste


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create a star on Earth


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create a star on Earth

This wont work gravity is too weak


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Solu&on: conne plasma in magne&c cage


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The largest tokamak (England)


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We have come very farRou&nely producing plasmas at astronomical temperatures:

300 million degrees

radius (m)

Temperatu re

(million degrees)

330

0

And manipula&ng hot plasmas with remarkable nesses(with radio waves, par&cle beams, magne&c elds..)


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Hea&ng a plasma to astronomical temperatures

injec&on of electromagne&c waves

injec&on of fast neutral atoms

neutral beam injec&on

RF wave injec&on


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RF antenna Neutral beam injector


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We have produced fusion energy

10 MW in 1994

In theUS

1997: 16 MW produced in the UK


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huge advance in fusion power

year

fusion power

Progress in fusion power halted by lack of facility, not science


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fusiontriple

product

Similar huge strides in key scien&c gure of merit(density) x (temperature) x (energy loss Bme)


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These results in the early 1990s

triggered an increase in the worldwide fusioneffort


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We have high condence that we can makepower-plant-scale fusion power,

Ques&ons: how quick? how a rac&ve? how economical?(reactor design studies predict cost-compe&&ve fusion power need to prove it)

We know the R D steps needed to proceed,


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The interna&onal ITER experimentWill generate 500 MW of fusion power for 500

seconds,

Study key physics and technology for fusion,The rst burning plasma


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seconds,


D+ + T+ He++ + n100 million degree plasmaelectricity


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seconds,


Partnership covers half the worlds popula&onthe European Union (45%)ChinaIndia

JapanRussiaSouth KoreaThe United States


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ITER is a reactor-scale experiment


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site prepara&onin France

Will operate in 2020


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Will operate in 2020


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US ITER construc&on cost:

about $2.5B over about 10 years


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The interna&onal context

fusion research in other naBons is surging,

in Asia and the E.U.

The escala&ng magne&c fusion ac&vity across the world


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Korea: superconduc&ng tokamak

China: superconduc&ng tokamak

Japan: superconduc&ng stellarator

New major facili&es



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England: tokamak



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England: tokamak

M j f ili& d &


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Major facili&es under construc&onJapan: superconduc&ng tokamak Germany: superconduc&ng stellarator

France: ITER

The world has entered the eraof superconduc&ng facili&es(steady-state)

M j f ili& d &


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Major facili&es under construc&onJapan: superconduc&ng tokamak Germany: superconduc&ng stellarator

France: ITER

The world has entered the eraof superconduc&ng facili&es(steady-state)

Many na&ons are planning for a demonstra&on plant


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Many na&ons are planning for a demonstra&on plantFor example,

The US operates a strong set o medium-scale


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The US operates a strong set o medium scaleexperiments

General Atomics MIT Princeton (PPPL)

Performing world-leading fusion researchfor ITER and beyond

However, in 10 years, some facili&es overseas will, in some ways, bemore capable than the US facili&es

Need to evolve to new US facili&es to a ack remaining issues for

fusion


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US has been the world leader in fusion,

has a fusion science workforce second to none,

on verge of falling behind to second &er

Fusion Challenges


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Fusion Challenges

PPPL can play major and broad role in fusion

Plasm a connement and controlburning plasmasteady-state plasma

The plasma-material interfaceeffect of plasma on materials, effect of materials on plasma

Harnessing fusion power (fusion nuclear science)effects of neutrons on materials,managing neutrons (tri&um breeding, power extrac&on)

T l d


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To conclude,

Scien&sts are condent we can make fusion power forlarge-scale energy use

Research challenges remain that will determine economica rac&veness, &me to commercializa&on

If there is societal will, we can have a clean, safe,

abundant, domes&c fusion energy source in our life&me


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The fusion budget challenge


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To fund ITER and a vital domes&c program

The fusion budget

(in round numbers)

FY 12 FY 13(needed)

FY 14(needed)

Domes&c $300M $300M $300MITER $100M $200M $300MTotal $400M $500M $600M

Th FY 13 Ad i i t & R t


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The FY 13 Administra&on Request

Domes&c $248M $45M cut (16%)

ITER $150M $45M increase ($100M needed)

Total $398M constant

We are at a turning point: can dismantle our world class scienceworkforce, or maintain our leadership


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The poli&cs of fusion in the US


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J. Willis, MacFusion

Steady funding for decades


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Steady funding for decades,but declining

Magnetic fusion energy: Status and challenges

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