The U.S. program for fusion nuclear technology development

Abstract

The Fusion Nuclear Technology (FNT) research and development program in the United States is shaped by a hierarchy of documents and by the environment for nuclear energy existing in the United States. The fission nuclear industry in the United States has suffered problems with public perception of safety, waste disposal issues, and economics as influenced by safety and environmental issues. For fusion to be a viable energy alternative, it must offer significant improvements in these areas. The hierarchy of documents defining objectives, plans, and strategy of the U.S. FNT program consists of the Magnetic Fusion Program Plan (MFPP) (February 1985), The Technical Planning Activity Final Report (January 1987), the Finesse Program Report (January 1987), and the Blanket Comparison and Selection Study Final Report (September 1984). In addition, two other documents are also significant in shaping FNT policy. These are the IEA report on Material for Fusion (December 1986) and the Summary of the Report of the Senior Committee on Environmental, Safety, and Economic Aspects of Magnetic Fusion Energy (September 1987). The U.S. Magnetic Fusion Program Plan defines four key technical issues (magnetic confinement systems, properties of burning plasmas, fusion nuclear technology, and fusion materials). The goal of the plan is to establish the scientific and technological base required for economic and environmental assessment of fusion energy in the early post-2000 time period. The Technical Planning Activity (TPA) provides the program logic for accomplishing the MFPP goal. The Development and Technology Program of the Office of Fusion Energy contains the two key technical issues: Fusion Nuclear Technology and Materials. The FNT program seeks to develop safe and environmentally acceptable systems to ensure fuel (tritium) self-sufficiency, and energy conversion systems. The fuel self-sufficiency program consists of programs to breed tritium in blankets and for processing the tritium both from the blankets and the plasma exhaust. At present only a small amount of effort is devoted to the energy conversion systems, with most of the effort on tritium production and handling. The blanket program is focused on critical feasibility issues for both solid and liquid breeders, and the Tritium System Test Assembly is focused on safe handling and processing of tritium. Throughout the blanket program, emphasis is placed on low activation materials and safety. This talk will provide details of the FNT research and development program including its structure and budget for FY 1988.