Fusion: Bringing star power to earth

Farrokh NajmabadiProf. of Electrical EngineeringDirector of Center for Energy ResearchUC San Diego

NES Grand Challenges SummitRaleigh, North CarolinaMarch 4-5, 2010

World uses (& needs) a lot of energy!

World Primary Energy consumption is 14 TW (2004) Equivalent to ~0.5 EJ or 11.2 Billion Ton of Oil Equivalent pa World energy [electricity] market ~ $4.5 trillion [$1.5 trillion] pa

World energy use is expected to grow 50% by 2030. Growth is necessary in developing countries to lift billions of

people out of poverty

80% of world energy is from burning fossil fuels

World Primary Energy consumption is 14 TW (2004) Equivalent to ~0.5 EJ or 11.2 Billion Ton of Oil Equivalent pa World energy [electricity] market ~ $4.5 trillion [$1.5 trillion] pa

World energy use is expected to grow 50% by 2030. Growth is necessary in developing countries to lift billions of

people out of poverty

80% of world energy is from burning fossil fuels

Conditions for Sustainability: Large supply of the energy resource (TW scale) Acceptable land/resource usage Minimal by-product stream Economically feasible technology

Conditions for Sustainability: Large supply of the energy resource (TW scale) Acceptable land/resource usage Minimal by-product stream Economically feasible technology

Fusion Energy Requirements:

Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: nE ~ 1021 s/m3

Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million oC (routinely done in present experiments)

Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower-

power lasers (IFE)

Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in

fusion environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface

Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: nE ~ 1021 s/m3

Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million oC (routinely done in present experiments)

Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower-

power lasers (IFE)

Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in

fusion environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface

Fusion Energy Requirements:

Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: nE ~ 1021 s/m3

Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million oC (routinely done in present experiments)

Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower-

power lasers (IFE)

Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in fusion

environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface

Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: nE ~ 1021 s/m3

Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million oC (routinely done in present experiments)

Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower-

power lasers (IFE)

Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in fusion

environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface

We have made tremendous progress in optimizing fusion plasmas

Substantial improvement in plasma performance though optimization of plasma shape, profiles, and feedback.

Achieving plasma stability at high plasma pressure.

Achieving improved plasma confinement through suppression of plasma turbulence, the “transport barrier.”

Progress toward steady-state operation through minimization of power needed to maintain plasma current through profile control.

Controlling the boundary layer between plasma and vessel wall to avoid localized particle and heat loads.

Substantial improvement in plasma performance though optimization of plasma shape, profiles, and feedback.

Achieving plasma stability at high plasma pressure.

Achieving improved plasma confinement through suppression of plasma turbulence, the “transport barrier.”

Progress toward steady-state operation through minimization of power needed to maintain plasma current through profile control.

Controlling the boundary layer between plasma and vessel wall to avoid localized particle and heat loads.

Fusion Energy Requirements:

Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: nE ~ 1021 s/m3

Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million oC (routinely done in present experiments)

Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower-power

lasers (IFE)

Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in

fusion environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface

Confining the plasma so that alpha particles sustain fusion burn Lawson Criteria: nE ~ 1021 s/m3

Heating the plasma for fusion reactions to occur to 100 Million oC (routinely done in present experiments)

Optimizing plasma confinement device to minimize the cost Smaller devices Cheaper systems, e.g., lower-field magnets (MFE) or lower-power

lasers (IFE)

Extracting the fusion power and breeding tritium Developing power extraction technology that can operate in

fusion environment Co-existence of a hot plasma with material interface

First wall and blanket System is subject to a harsh environment

Environment:

Surface heat flux (due to X-ray and ions)

First wall erosion by ions.

Radiation damage by neutrons (e.g. structural material)

Volumetric heating by neutrons in the blanket.

MHD effects

Functions:

Tritium breeding management

Maximize power recovery and coolant outlet temperature for maximum thermal efficiency

Constraints:

Simple manufacturing technique

Safety (low afterheat and activity)

Environment:

Surface heat flux (due to X-ray and ions)

First wall erosion by ions.

Radiation damage by neutrons (e.g. structural material)

Volumetric heating by neutrons in the blanket.

MHD effects

Functions:

Tritium breeding management

Maximize power recovery and coolant outlet temperature for maximum thermal efficiency

Constraints:

Simple manufacturing technique

Safety (low afterheat and activity)

Outboard blanket & first wall

x rayNeutronsions

New structural material should be developed for fusion application

Fe-9Cr steels: builds upon 9Cr-1Mo industrial experience and materials database (9-12 Cr ODS steels are a higher temperature future option) SiC/SiC: High risk, high performance option (early in its development path) W alloys: High performance option for PFCs (early in its development path)

Fe-9Cr steels: builds upon 9Cr-1Mo industrial experience and materials database (9-12 Cr ODS steels are a higher temperature future option) SiC/SiC: High risk, high performance option (early in its development path) W alloys: High performance option for PFCs (early in its development path)

Irradiation leads to a operating temperature window for material

Additional considerations such as He embrittlement and chemical compatibility may impose further restrictions on operating window

Additional considerations such as He embrittlement and chemical compatibility may impose further restrictions on operating window

Radiation embrittlement

Thermal creep

Zinkle and Ghoniem, Fusion Engr. Des. 49-50 (2000) 709

Carnot=1-Treject/Thigh

Structural Material Operating Temperature Windows: 10-50 dpa

Several blanket Concepts have been developed

Simple, low pressure design with SiC structure and LiPb coolant and breeder.

Innovative design leads to high LiPb outlet temperature (~1,100oC) while keeping SiC structure temperature below 1,000oC leading to a high thermal efficiency of ~ 60%.

Simple, low pressure design with SiC structure and LiPb coolant and breeder.

Innovative design leads to high LiPb outlet temperature (~1,100oC) while keeping SiC structure temperature below 1,000oC leading to a high thermal efficiency of ~ 60%.

Dual coolant with a self-cooled PbLi zone, He-cooled RAFS structure and SiC insert

Dual coolant with a self-cooled PbLi zone, He-cooled RAFS structure and SiC insert

Flow configuration allows for a coolant outlet temperature to be higher than maximum structure temperature

Flow configuration allows for a coolant outlet temperature to be higher than maximum structure temperature

How to meet the Fusion Challenge

National Will & Resources Public funding of energy research is down 50% since

1980 (in real term). World energy R&D expenditure is 0.25% of energy market of $4.5 trillion.

Stable Funding

Man Power: Training next generation of engineers

Focusing on Fusion Energy Mission Science-based Engineering

National Will & Resources Public funding of energy research is down 50% since

1980 (in real term). World energy R&D expenditure is 0.25% of energy market of $4.5 trillion.

Stable Funding

Man Power: Training next generation of engineers

Focusing on Fusion Energy Mission Science-based Engineering

We can do it!

Thank You