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
Brombin M
(2008)
Real-time electron density measurements from Cotton-Mouton effect in JET machine.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Coelho R
(2009)
Real-time data processing and magnetic field pitch angle estimation of the JET motional Stark effect diagnostic based on Kalman filtering.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Marot L
(2009)
Reactivity of rhodium during co-deposition of rhodium and carbon
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Arter W
(2009)
Radiation transport analyses for IFMIF design by the Attila software using a Monte-Carlo source model
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Pampin R
(2017)
Radiation Transport Analyses for Design Optimisation of the ITER Core LIDAR Diagnostic
in Fusion Science and Technology
Y Andrew (Co-Author)
(2008)
Radial electric field profiles in JET advanced tokamak scenarios
Crombé K
(2009)
Radial electric field in JET advanced tokamak scenarios with toroidal field ripple
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
C D Challis (Co-Author)
(2008)
Radial analysis of beta-limiting modes in JET
Nardon E
(2010)
Quasi-linear MHD modelling of H-mode plasma response to resonant magnetic perturbations
in Nuclear Fusion
Nicol R
(2009)
QUANTIFYING THE ANISOTROPY AND SOLAR CYCLE DEPENDENCE OF "1/ f " SOLAR WIND FLUCTUATIONS OBSERVED BY ADVANCED COMPOSITION EXPLORER
in The Astrophysical Journal
Milnes J
(2009)
Qualitative assessment of RANS models for Hypervapotron flow and heat transfer
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Maier H
(2009)
Qualification of tungsten coatings on plasma-facing components for JET
in Physica Scripta
Jacquinot J
(2009)
Progress on the heating and current drive systems for ITER
in Fusion Engineering and Design
V Parail (Co-Author)
(2008)
Progress on integrated modelling of ELMy H-mode at JET with COCONUT
Riccardo V
(2009)
Progress in understanding halo current at JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Litnovsky A
(2009)
Progress in research and development of mirrors for ITER diagnostics
in Nuclear Fusion
Liu Y
(2009)
Progress in physics and control of the resistive wall mode in advanced tokamaks
in Physics of Plasmas
W Arter (Author)
(2009)
Prior information for nonlinear modelling of tokamaks
Hawryluk R
(2009)
Principal physics developments evaluated in the ITER design review
in Nuclear Fusion
Durodie´ F
(2009)
Present Status of the ITER-like ICRF Antenna on JET
Meszaros B
(2010)
Preliminary Investigation of Optical-Path-Related Elements in the Port Plug of ITER Core LIDAR Diagnostics
in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Uytdenhouwen I
(2009)
Preliminary assessment of possible carbide formation on Be and T contaminated CFC tiles from JET
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Windsor C
(2008)
Prediction of the Charpy transition temperature in highly irradiated ferritic steels
in Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering
Firdaouss M
(2009)
Power deposition modelling of the ITER-like wall beryllium tiles at JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
W Fundamenski (Author)
(2009)
Power and particle exhaust: Recent progress on JET and implications for ITER
Fundamenski W
(2009)
Power and particle exhaust in tokamaks: Integration of plasma scenarios with plasma facing materials and components
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Tojo H
(2008)
Poloidal mode analysis of magnetic probe data in a spherical tokamak configuration.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Ambrosino G
(2008)
Plasma Strike-Point Sweeping on JET Tokamak With the eXtreme Shape Controller
in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Huber A
(2009)
Plasma radiation distribution and radiation loads onto the vessel during transient events in JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Thyagaraja A
(2009)
Plasma physics in noninertial frames
in Physics of Plasmas
A Thyagaraja (Author)
(2009)
Plasma physics in non-inertial frames
Kurihara K
(2008)
Plasma control systems relevant to ITER and fusion power plants
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Ludwig G
(2009)
Physics performance analysis of low-power tokamak reactors
in Nuclear Fusion
Bécoulet M
(2009)
Physics of penetration of resonant magnetic perturbations used for Type I edge localized modes suppression in tokamaks
in Nuclear Fusion
Kirk A
(2009)
Physics of ELM power fluxes to plasma facing components and implications for ITER
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
M J Walsh (Author)
(2009)
Performance evaluation of ITER Thomson scattering systems
Isoardi L
(2010)
Penalization modeling of a limiter in the Tokamak edge plasma
in Journal of Computational Physics
Fitzgerald S
(2008)
Peierls Potential for Crowdions in the bcc Transition Metals
in Physical Review Letters
Beurskens M
(2009)
Pedestal width and ELM size identity studies in JET and DIII-D; implications for ITER
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Snyder P
(2009)
Pedestal stability comparison and ITER pedestal prediction
in Nuclear Fusion
M N A Beurskens (Author)
(2009)
Pedestal dynamics in ELMy H-mode plasmas in JET
Beurskens M
(2009)
Pedestal and scrape-off layer dynamics in ELMy H-mode plasmas in JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Beurskens M
(2008)
Pedestal and ELM response to impurity seeding in JET advanced scenario plasmas
in Nuclear Fusion
Valovic M
(2008)
Particle confinement of pellet-fuelled tokamak plasma
in Nuclear Fusion
Valovic M
(2008)
Particle confinement of pellet-fuelled H-mode plasmas in the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Castro R
(2008)
PAPI based federation as a test-bed for a common security infrastructure in EFDA sites
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Nightingale M
(2009)
Overview on Experiments On ITER-like Antenna On JET And ICRF Antenna Design For ITER
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 |