Progress in CFETR Power Stations Concept Study

Abstract

While EAST experiment was running in 2012, the project of the China fusion engineering test reactor (CFETR) concept design was started. This ITER-like tokamak system will be the second full superconducting tokamak in China based on EAST technology. In phase I, it has 50–200 MW heat output for demonstrating power generation. The fusion power stations contain complete structure of fusion power plant (FPP) which do not appear in the ITER and huge HV substation which receives power from the 500 kV transmission grid for powering its pulsed power electric network (PPEN) and steady-state electric power network. Furthermore, its structure of turbine generator of FPP is similar to that of a nuclear power station of the pressurized-water reactor. This paper describes the typical CFETR loads and put forward the requirements of short circuit capacity of HV grid. It analyzes different strategies of putting the generator power to the grid, i.e. on the 500 kV grid for future DEMO power structure or 66 kV medium-voltage local grid for self-use. In period between twice burning plasma, conceptual solutions are presented to maintain thermal circuit operation.