UK Fusion Programme 2008-2010
Lead Research Organisation:
United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Department Name: Culham Centre for Fusion Energy
Abstract
Fusion is the main energy source of the universe; it is the process that powers the sun and the stars. If it can be harnessed economically on earth, it has the potential to be an important component of the portfolio of measures needed to ensure a secure, environmentally responsible, supply of energy, at a time when fossil fuels will be becoming increasingly expensive. There is increasing realisation of this potential as reflected by the launch of the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, being built in France, which will be the first fusion device to achieve energy gain and sustained burn.In a fusion reaction, large amounts of energy are released when the nuclei of two light atoms fuse together at extremely high temperatures to create a nucleus of a larger atom. In the most promising way to achieve these conditions on earth, strong magnetic fields in a tokamak configuration are used to control and confine the high temperature plasma.UKAEA's Culham Science Centre in Oxfordshire is one of the world's leading fusion research centres, and contributes to fusion research in two ways: (i) through the UK's own programme focused on the spherical tokamak experiment MAST, and (ii) by contributing to the Joint European Torus (JET) programme. International co-operation is strong with the focus on the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER). EURATOM part-funds all national programmes in Europe including the UK's.Experimental programmes on the MAST and JET tokamaks are performed to help resolve and refine understanding of key physics issues for ITER. In addition, experimental programmes on MAST focus on testing the potential of the spherical tokamak as a more compact option for future fusion devices. A strong theory and modelling group, utilising parallel- and super-computing facilities, supports the experimental programmes and contributes to the research and development of fusion materials and to studies of conceptual fusion power stations. The UK leads the research and development of two ITER specialist (diagnostic and heating) systems, and participates in several others of these large complex projects.The results of the research are presented in reports and publications, and at conferences, expert groups and specialist committees. Collaborations with researchers in other areas of science and technology are pursued strongly, where the research overlaps with fusion R&D, and increasingly there are fusion researchers in universities with whom UKAEA works.The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the European Commission fund, provide advice and monitor the UK fusion programme (some of the European funding / for work on ITER systems - is now channelled through the new Fusion for Energy Agency in Barcelona). The Fusion Advisory Board (FAB) advises EPSRC and UKAEA on the programme and on the longer-term strategy for fusion research at Culham; FAB receives reports from the MAST Programme Advisory Committee, a sub-group on ITER and industry, and an annual UK Fusion Materials Forum.
Publications
Haist B
(2009)
Remote handling preparations for JET EP2 shutdown
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Waelbroeck F
(2009)
Effect of electrostatic turbulence on magnetic islands
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Schmidt A
(2009)
First demonstration of non-destructive tests on tungsten-coated JET divertor CFC tiles in the electron beam facility JUDITH-2
in Physica Scripta
Nguyen-Manh D
(2009)
Magnetic properties of point defect interaction with impurity atoms in Fe-Cr alloys
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
M-L Mayoral (Co-Author)
(2009)
ICRF heating: The JET experience and prospect for ITER
Hamlyn-Harris C
(2009)
Engineering design of an RF vacuum window for the ITER ICRH antenna
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Haasz A
(2009)
Thermo-oxidation and analysis of JET codeposits
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Connolley T
(2009)
Bonding of single crystal silicon to Cu and AlN: Trial results
in Science and Technology of Welding and Joining
Kreter A
(2009)
Dynamics of erosion and deposition in tokamaks
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
H Meyer (Author)
(2009)
Overview of physics results from MAST
Jakubowski M
(2009)
Overview of the results on divertor heat loads in RMP controlled H-mode plasmas on DIII-D
in Nuclear Fusion
Crombé K
(2009)
Radial electric field in JET advanced tokamak scenarios with toroidal field ripple
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Lehnen M
(2009)
Runaway generation during disruptions in JET and TEXTOR
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
C D Challis (Author)
(2009)
Identity experiments in the hybrid regime on DIII-D and JET
Jacquinot J
(2009)
Progress on the heating and current drive systems for ITER
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Pusztai I
(2009)
Collisional model of quasilinear transport driven by toroidal electrostatic ion temperature gradient modes
in Physics of Plasmas
Webster A
(2009)
Magnetohydrodynamic stability at a separatrix. I. Toroidal peeling modes and the energy principle
in Physics of Plasmas
Borthwick A
(2009)
Mechanical design features and challenges for the ITER ICRH antenna
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Airila M
(2009)
ERO modelling of local deposition of injected 13 C tracer at the outer divertor of JET
in Physica Scripta
Y Q Liu (Co-Author)
(2009)
Multimodal ITER RWM analysis including 3D conducting structures
Ekedahl A
(2009)
Effect of gas injection during LH wave coupling at ITER-relevant plasma-wall distances in JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
De Temmerman G
(2009)
Insight into the co-deposition of deuterium with beryllium: Influence of the deposition conditions on the deuterium retention and release
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Baranov Y
(2009)
Anomalous and classical neutral beam fast ion diffusion on JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
McClements K
(2009)
The orbital dynamics and collisional transport of trace massive impurity ions in rotating tokamaks
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Tala T
(2009)
Evidence of inward toroidal momentum convection in the JET tokamak.
in Physical review letters
GarcĂa-Muñoz M
(2009)
MHD induced fast-ion losses on ASDEX Upgrade
in Nuclear Fusion
Milnes J
(2009)
Qualitative assessment of RANS models for Hypervapotron flow and heat transfer
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Vega J
(2009)
New developments at JET in diagnostics, real-time control, data acquisition and information retrieval with potential application to ITER
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Gardarein J
(2009)
Thermal quadrupoles approach for two-dimensional heat flux estimation using infrared and thermocouple measurements on the JET tokamak
in International Journal of Thermal Sciences
Baranov Y
(2009)
LH power modulation experiment on JET
Khakshouri S
(2009)
Influence of electronic effects on the surface erosion of tungsten
in Physical Review B
Lescure C
(2009)
Measurement of disruption forces in JET using fiber-optic sensors
Holcomb C
(2009)
Optimizing stability, transport, and divertor operation through plasma shaping for steady-state scenario development in DIII-D
in Physics of Plasmas
Beurskens M
(2009)
Pedestal and scrape-off layer dynamics in ELMy H-mode plasmas in JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Chiesa S
(2009)
Free energy of a ? 110 ? dumbbell interstitial defect in bcc Fe: Harmonic and anharmonic contributions
in Physical Review B
Ham C
(2009)
Rotational stabilization of the resistive wall mode by coupling to a dissipative rational surface
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Harrison J
(2009)
Interpretive modelling of scrape-off plasmas on the MAST tokamak
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Uytdenhouwen I
(2009)
Preliminary assessment of possible carbide formation on Be and T contaminated CFC tiles from JET
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Winskel M
(2009)
Examining the prospects for accelerated development of renewable energy technologies - and its impact on energy system decarbonisation
in IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
Palumbo M
(2009)
Application of a SVD-Based Fast Technique for the Analysis of 3D Instabilities of Fusion Plasmas
in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
Titarev V
(2009)
Computational modelling of the IFMIF lithium target
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Krasilnikov A
(2009)
Fundamental ion cyclotron resonance heating of JET deuterium plasmas
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Bonny G
(2009)
Numerical prediction of thermodynamic properties of iron-chromium alloys using semi-empirical cohesive models: The state of the art
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Bekris N
(2009)
Assessment of the flash-lamp photon-cleaning detritiation method tested at JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Sips A
(2009)
Experimental studies of ITER demonstration discharges
in Nuclear Fusion
Marmar E
(2009)
Overview of the Alcator C-Mod Research Program
in Nuclear Fusion
Lisgo S
(2009)
Interpretation of spatially resolved helium line ratios on MAST
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
| Description | Fusion research is focused on ITER (the international experiment being built in France) followed by a demonstration power station (DEMO). The Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) is a world-leading fusion research centre. Some highlights from the last two years are summarised below (many the result of collaborations with universities and overseas laboratories). Additional information is in Annual Reports (http://www.ccfe.ac.uk/annual_reports.aspx). Reacting plasmas: The UK programme, funded by EPSRC and EURATOM, is focused on the MAST experiment. Physics studies benefited from high power heating systems and improvements to diagnostics. A major upgrade to the system to measure temperature and density profiles (part funded by York University) was completed and provides unmatched spatial resolution. Important progress from both MAST, and the linked Theory and Modelling programme, has been made in several key areas directly relevant to optimising ITER performance:- energy confinement, enabling more reliable prediction of plasma performance in future devices; control of potentially damaging instabilities; improved understanding of performance limiting core and edge plasma instabilities; gas injection to mitigate the effects of rapid plasma terminations (disruptions), etc. CCFE has contributed to the European JET programme, with notable achievements including operation at high power and current, and substantial progress in scenarios that are suitable for steady state operation in ITER. The EPSRC grant pays the UK contribution to JET operation. Materials: Work included: development of techniques for modelling iron-chromium alloys in the high-temperature limit; modelling of steels and tungsten to compare with experimental data from Oxford University; Ion Beam Analysis measurements of erosion, deposition and hydrogen-isotope retention in tiles removed from the JET tokamak. ITER Systems: CCFE has secured lead roles in two major grants to develop ITER heating systems, and leads a consortium to bid for the LIDAR temperature and density measurement system. CCFE has smaller roles in several other areas. Optimised power plants: Work has concentrated on a detailed assessment of the advantages and disadvantages of pulsed and steady-state DEMOs. Several clear advantages in a steady-state device were identified, however the potential simplification in a pulsed device (greatly reduced need for current drive) is a significant counter-advantage. Conceptual design studies of a spherical tokamak Component Test Facility have continued. A big challenge for any fusion system is dealing with the large exhaust power from burning plasmas. One novel promising option, for both DEMO and CTF, which will be part of the MAST upgrade, is the "Super-X" expanded divertor. Major upgrade to MAST: the design has been developed. The purpose is to give higher performance, longer pulse plasmas allowing definitive tests of the physics of an ST-based CTF, and more exacting studies of ITER physics. In late 2009, RCUK reviewed UK fusion research and following this EPSRC approved funding for the upgrade. In addition CCFE has promoted industry involvement in fusion and significantly assisted UK companies in winning ITER business, increased university involvement (e.g. PhDs), and developed its skills-base for an increased emphasis on technology as recommended by the RCUK review. |
| Exploitation Route | In addition CCFE has promoted industry involvement in fusion and significantly assisted UK companies in winning ITER business, increased university involvement (e.g. PhDs), and developed its skills-base for an increased emphasis on technology as recommended by the RCUK review. |
| Sectors | Energy |
| URL | http://www.ccfe.ac.uk/annual_reports.aspx |
| Description | As well as its long term task, developing fusion power, CCFE has promoted industry involvement in fusion. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2008 |
| Sector | Energy |
| Impact Types | Economic |