UK Fusion Programme 2008-2010
Lead Research Organisation:
CCFE/UKAEA
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.
Organisations
Publications
Sharapov S
(2017)
Chapter 5: Burning Plasma Studies at JET
in Fusion Science and Technology
Schneider W
(2008)
Comparison of the IOFFE neutral particle analyser with the Princeton analyser on the Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak
in Vacuum
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
Schekochihin A
(2009)
ASTROPHYSICAL GYROKINETICS: KINETIC AND FLUID TURBULENT CASCADES IN MAGNETIZED WEAKLY COLLISIONAL PLASMAS
in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series
Schekochihin A
(2008)
Gyrokinetic turbulence: a nonlinear route to dissipation through phase space
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Scannell R
(2008)
Design of a new Nd:YAG Thomson scattering system for MAST.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Sartori F
(2008)
The JET PCU project: An international plasma control project
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Samtaney R
(2009)
Formation of plasmoid chains in magnetic reconnection.
in Physical review letters
Sadakov S
(2009)
Conceptual design of the ITER upper port plug for charge exchange diagnostic
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Saarelma S
(2009)
MHD stability analysis of small ELM regimes in JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
S Sharapov (Co-Author)
(2008)
Fast Particle driven Alfvén quasimodes in tokamaks
S Sharapov (Co-Author)
(2008)
Whistlers of ultra-low frequency in tokamak discharges with Internal Transport Barriers
S Saarelma (Author)
(2008)
Global turbulence simulations of CYCLONE base case and MAST plasmas
S Pinches (Author)
(2009)
Overview of recent results from MAST
S Lisgo (Author)
(2009)
Super-X Advanced Divertor design for MAST upgrade
S Lisgo (Author)
(2009)
The influence of filaments on scrape-off layer transport in MAST
S L Newton (Author)
(2008)
On kinetic theory and Hall MHD description of the q=1 inertial layer in fishbone modes
S Knipe (Co-Author)
(2008)
Tritium in Fusion: R&D in the EU
in Fusion Science & Technology
S E Sharapov (Co-Author)
(2008)
Study of the spectral characteristics and the nonlinear evolution of ELMs on JET using a wavelet analysis
S E Sharapov (Co-Author)
(2008)
Modelling of beam-driven high frequency Alfvén eigenmodes in MAST
S E Sharapov (Author)
(2008)
Magnetic turbulence associated with confinement changes in JET
S E Sharapov (Author)
(2008)
Simulations to elucidate suprathermal deuterium ion tail observed in He3 minority ICRF heated JET plasmas
S D Pinches (Co-Author)
(2009)
Interaction between fast particles and magnetohydrodynamical waves in the presence of toroidal flow
S D Pinches (Author)
(2009)
Fast particle instabilities in MAST
S C Cowley (Co-Author)
(2008)
Model collision operators for numerical gyrokinetics
S Cowley (Author)
(2009)
Fusion's wet blanket
in Nuclear Engineering International
Rutherford A
(2009)
Modelling swift heavy ion irradiation in iron
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Ruset C
(2009)
Industrial scale 10µmW coating of CFC tiles for ITER-like Wall Project at JET
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Rubinacci G
(2009)
A fast technique applied to the analysis of Resistive Wall Modes with 3D conducting structures
in Journal of Computational Physics
Rubel M
(2009)
An overview of a comprehensive First Mirror Test for ITER at JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Rubel M
(2009)
Analysis of fuel retention in plasma-facing components from controlled fusion devices
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Rubel M
(2009)
Overview of long-term fuel inventory and co-deposition in castellated beryllium limiters at JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Rozhansky V
(2010)
Modification of the edge transport barrier by resonant magnetic perturbations
in Nuclear Fusion
Rozhansky V
(2009)
Simulation of H-modes discharges in ASDEX-Upgrade and MAST
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Rozhansky V
(2009)
New B2SOLPS5.2 transport code for H-mode regimes in tokamaks
in Nuclear Fusion
Roth J
(2009)
Recent analysis of key plasma wall interactions issues for ITER
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Roth J
(2008)
Tritium inventory in ITER plasma-facing materials and tritium removal procedures
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Rosanvallon S
(2008)
Dust control in tokamak environment
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Rosanvallon S
(2009)
Dust in ITER: Diagnostics and removal techniques
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Romanelli F
(2009)
Recent contribution of JET to the ITER physics
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Robbins E
(2009)
The use of virtual reality and intelligent database systems for procedure planning, visualisation, and real-time component tracking in remote handling operations
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Roach C
(2008)
The 2008 Public Release of the International Multi-tokamak Confinement Profile Database
in Nuclear Fusion
Roach C
(2009)
Gyrokinetic simulations of spherical tokamaks
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Rincón E
(2009)
Thermal and hydraulic analysis of the cooling system for the ITER equatorial port plugs
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Riccardo V
(2009)
Operational limits for the ITER-like wall in JET
in Physica Scripta
Riccardo V
(2017)
Chapter 7: Disruption Studies in JET
in Fusion Science and Technology
Riccardo V
(2009)
Engineering challenges of the JET ITER-like Wall
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Riccardo V
(2009)
Progress in understanding halo current at JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Ribeiro C
(2008)
Evidence of cold bubble-like structure in START density limit plasmas
in Plasma Physics Reports
| 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 |