Operational characterization of tokamak and stellarator type fusion power plants from an energy system perspective

Abstract

Fusion power plants are not yet considered specifically in European long-term energy system studies. In order to include them in such studies a corresponding and valid parametrization of their operating performance has to be established despite the fact that fusion reactor design is still an ongoing effort.The goal of the present paper is to specify and energetically represent the prospect of feasible operation and dynamics of tokamak and stellarator type fusion power plants from an energy system perspective. Special focus is given on time and operation mode dependent self-consumption. The basis of the parametrization is a one GWel power output plant. As a result, we propose the representation of fusion power plants as a system with three main components (fusion reactor, thermal energy storage (TES) and power conversion system), followed by a set of parameters for both tokamak and stellarator type devices. Five different operating states are defined for a fusion plant, depending on the required and active auxiliary subsystems. The comparison between operational dynamics of conventional and fusion power plants showed no tremendous differences due to the TES utilization. However, fusion plants had a lower full-load operation efficiency due to higher self-consumption as well as extensive pre-production losses.