Magnetic Fusion Energy Plasma Interactive and High Heat Flux Components: Volume 5, Technical assessment of critical issues in the steady state operation of fusion confinement devices

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1988

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5332547· OSTI ID:5332547

Critical issues for the steady state operation of plasma confinement devices exist in both the physics and technology fields of fusion research. Due to the wide range and number of these issues, this technical assessment has focused on the crucial issues associated with the plasma physics and the plasma interactive components. The document provides information on the problem areas that affect the design and operation of a steady state ETR or ITER type confinement device. It discusses both tokamaks and alternative concepts, and provides a survey of existing and planned confinement machines and laboratory facilities that can address the identified issues. A universal definition of steady state operation is difficult to obtain. From a physics point of view, steady state is generally achieved when the time derivatives approach zero and the operation time greatly exceeds the characteristic time constants of the device. Steady state operation for materials depends on whether thermal stress, creep, fatigue, radiation damage, or power removal are being discussed. For erosion issues, the fluence and availability of the machine for continuous operation are important, assuming that transient events such as disruptions do not limit the component lifetimes. The panel suggests, in general terms, that steady state requires plasma operation from 100 to 1000 seconds and an availability of more than a few percent, which is similar to the expectations for an ETR type device. The assessment of critical issues for steady state operation is divided into four sections: physics issues; technology issues; issues in alternative concepts; and devices and laboratory facilities that can address these problems.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles (USA). Inst. for Plasma and Fusion Research
• DOE Contract Number: FG03-85ER51069
• OSTI ID: 5332547
• Report Number(s): UCLA/PPG-1125; ON: DE88006920
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
CONTROL SYSTEMS
DAMAGING NEUTRON FLUENCE
DIVERTORS
EROSION
FATIGUE
HEAT TRANSFER
IMPURITIES
OPERATION
PLASMA DIAGNOSTICS
PLASMA HEATING
REACTOR FUELING
REVERSE-FIELD PINCH
SPHEROMAK DEVICES
STABILITY
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
THERMAL STRESSES
THERMONUCLEAR REACTOR MATERIALS
TOKAMAK DEVICES
TRITIUM
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
ENERGY TRANSFER
HEATING
HYDROGEN ISOTOPES
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MATERIALS
MECHANICAL PROPERTIES
NEUTRON FLUENCE
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
PINCH EFFECT
RADIOISOTOPES
STRESSES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
700200* - Fusion Energy- Fusion Power Plant Technology
700101 - Fusion Energy- Plasma Research- Confinement
Heating
& Production