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
BĂ©m P
(2009)
Low and medium energy deuteron-induced reactions on Al 27
in Physical Review C
Park J
(2009)
Validation of on- and off-axis neutral beam current drive against experiment in DIII-D
in Physics of Plasmas
Saarelma S
(2009)
MHD stability analysis of small ELM regimes in JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Gulejová B
(2009)
SOLPS5 simulations of Type I ELMing H-mode at JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Ham C
(2009)
Rotational stabilization of the resistive wall mode by coupling to a dissipative rational surface
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Hemsworth R
(2009)
Status of the ITER heating neutral beam system
in Nuclear Fusion
Vagliasindi G
(2009)
First Application of Cellular Nonlinear Network Methods to the Real-Time Identification of Hot Spots in JET
in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
M Turnyanskiy (Author)
(2009)
Off axis NBCD experiment on MAST
K G McClements (Author)
(2009)
The orbital dynamics and collisional transport of trace massive impurity ions in rotating plasmas
Nightingale M
(2009)
Overview on Experiments On ITER-like Antenna On JET And ICRF Antenna Design For ITER
Westerhout J
(2009)
Chemical erosion of different carbon composites under ITER-relevant plasma conditions
in Physica Scripta
S Lisgo (Author)
(2009)
Super-X Advanced Divertor design for MAST upgrade
Brooks N
(2009)
Benchmarking of alternate theories for Stark broadening against experimental data from DIII-D diagnostics
in Plasma Physics Reports
J W Connor (Co-Author)
(2009)
The interaction between transport and reconnection processes
Snyder P
(2009)
Pedestal stability comparison and ITER pedestal prediction
in Nuclear Fusion
Cook I
(2009)
Evolving targets for DEMO: Implications for materials development
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Riccardo V
(2009)
Engineering challenges of the JET ITER-like Wall
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
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
W Fundamenski (Author)
(2009)
ELM filament heat loads on plasma facing components in JET and ITER
Humphreys D
(2009)
Experimental vertical stability studies for ITER performance and design guidance
in Nuclear Fusion
Militello F
(2009)
Effect of current corrugations on the stability of the tearing mode
in Physics of Plasmas
Shevchenko V
(2009)
Current Drive and Plasma Heating by Electron Bernstein Waves in MAST
K K Kirov (Author)
(2009)
LH wave absorption and current drive studies by application of modulated LHCD at JET
Palumbo M
(2009)
Application of a SVD-Based Fast Technique for the Analysis of 3D Instabilities of Fusion Plasmas
in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
Durodié F
(2009)
Commissioning of the ITER-like ICRF antenna for JET
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Lavrentiev M
(2009)
Magnetic cluster expansion simulations of FeCr alloys
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Aggarwal K
(2009)
Electron impact excitation of Kr XXXII
in Atomic Data and Nuclear Data Tables
Hirai T
(2009)
Failure modes of vacuum plasma spray tungsten coating created on carbon fibre composites under thermal loads
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Widdowson A
(2009)
Testing of beryllium marker coatings in PISCES-B for the JET ITER-like wall
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Kirk A
(2009)
A comparison of H-mode pedestal characteristics in MAST as a function of magnetic configuration and ELM type
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Llewellyn Smith C
(2009)
The path to fusion power
in The European Physical Journal Special Topics
C D Challis (Author)
(2009)
Identity experiments in the hybrid regime on DIII-D and JET
Meyer H
(2009)
Overview of physics results from MAST
in Nuclear Fusion
Y Q Liu (Co-Author)
(2009)
RWM analysis with 3D conductors, plasma flow and kinetic damping
BĂ©coulet M
(2009)
Physics of penetration of resonant magnetic perturbations used for Type I edge localized modes suppression in tokamaks
in Nuclear Fusion
Hole M
(2009)
A modulation model for mode splitting of magnetic perturbations in the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Graves JP
(2009)
Sawtooth-control mechanism using toroidally propagating ion-cyclotron-resonance waves in tokamaks.
in Physical review letters
Barnes M
(2009)
Linearized model Fokker-Planck collision operators for gyrokinetic simulations. II. Numerical implementation and tests
in Physics of Plasmas
M N A Beurskens (Author)
(2009)
Pedestal dynamics in ELMy H-mode plasmas in JET
A Kirk (Author)
(2009)
ELM power loadings and control on MAST using resonant magnetic perturbations
Patel K
(2009)
Optically transmissive window on ITER port cell door
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Connor J
(2009)
Linear tearing mode stability equations for a low collisionality toroidal plasma
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Nardon E
(2009)
ELM control by resonant magnetic perturbations on JET and MAST
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Rosanvallon S
(2009)
Dust in ITER: Diagnostics and removal techniques
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
GarcĂa-Muñoz M
(2009)
MHD induced fast-ion losses on ASDEX Upgrade
in Nuclear Fusion
Duffy D
(2009)
Electronic effects in radiation damage simulations
in Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms
Sadakov S
(2009)
Conceptual design of the ITER upper port plug for charge exchange diagnostic
in Fusion Engineering and Design
De Vries P
(2009)
Internal transport barrier dynamics with plasma rotation in JET
in Nuclear Fusion
| 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 |