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
R A Forrest (Author)
(2009)
Handbook of activation data calculated using EASY-2007
Šesták D
(2009)
Design and engineering of optical diagnostics for COMPASS
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Tesch K
(2009)
Determining heat transfer coefficients using evolutionary algorithms
in Engineering Optimization
Hirai T
(2009)
Failure modes of vacuum plasma spray tungsten coating created on carbon fibre composites under thermal loads
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Tala T
(2009)
Evidence of inward toroidal momentum convection in the JET tokamak.
in Physical review letters
Cordey J
(2009)
An error analysis of dimensionless confinement scaling experiments
in Nuclear Fusion
H Meyer (Author)
(2009)
Overview of physics results from MAST
Liang Y
(2009)
Active control of edge localized modes with a low n perturbation fields in the JET tokamak
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
A Thyagaraja (Author)
(2009)
Plasma physics in non-inertial frames
Borisenko K
(2009)
A concerted rational crystallization/amorphization mechanism of Ge2Sb2Te5
in Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids
Tardini G
(2009)
Angular momentum studies with NBI modulation in JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Militello F
(2009)
Error field penetration in the presence of diamagnetic effects
in Nuclear Fusion
Coyne T
(2009)
De-convolution of complex residual gas spectra at JET
Fundamenski W
(2009)
Power and particle exhaust in tokamaks: Integration of plasma scenarios with plasma facing materials and components
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
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
M Nightingale (Author)
(2009)
RF and mechanical design of the ITER Ion Cyclotron Resonance Frequency antenna
Lawson K
(2009)
An absolute sensitivity calibration of the JET VUV SPRED spectrometer
in Journal of Instrumentation
Sjöstrand H
(2009)
Gain stabilization control system of the upgraded magnetic proton recoil neutron spectrometer at JET.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Saarelma S
(2009)
MHD stability analysis of small ELM regimes in JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Palumbo M
(2009)
Application of a SVD-Based Fast Technique for the Analysis of 3D Instabilities of Fusion Plasmas
in IEEE Transactions on Magnetics
Karditsas P
(2009)
Design issues and implications for structural integrity of fusion power plant components
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Kirov K
(2009)
Effects of ICRF induced density modifications on LH wave coupling at JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Tamain P
(2009)
3D modelling of edge parallel flow asymmetries
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Dewhurst J
(2009)
The effects of nonuniform magnetic field strength on density flux and test particle transport in drift wave turbulence
in Physics of Plasmas
Durodié F
(2009)
Commissioning of the ITER-like ICRF antenna for JET
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Gerhardt S
(2009)
Relationship between onset thresholds, trigger types and rotation shear for the m/n = 2/1 neoclassical tearing mode in a high-ß spherical torus
in Nuclear Fusion
Chapman I
(2009)
Sawtooth control and the interaction of energetic particles
in Nuclear Fusion
R J Akers (Co-Author)
(2009)
Gyrokinetic simulations of electron scale turbulence in spherical tokamak plasmas with flow shear
Liu Y
(2009)
An improved method to evaluate the ideal no-wall beta limit from resonant field amplification measurements in JET
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Kiptily V
(2009)
Recent progress in fast ion studies on JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Nardon E
(2009)
ELM control by resonant magnetic perturbations on JET and MAST
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Firdaouss M
(2009)
Power deposition modelling of the ITER-like wall beryllium tiles at JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Y Liu (Author)
(2009)
Modelling of resonant field amplification in JET
Gryaznevich M
(2009)
Results of Joint Experiments and other IAEA activities on research using small tokamaks
in Nuclear Fusion
Widdowson A
(2009)
An overview of erosion-deposition studies for the JET Mk II high delta divertor
in Physica Scripta
Riccardo V
(2009)
Engineering challenges of the JET ITER-like Wall
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Lisgo S
(2009)
Interpretation of spatially resolved helium line ratios on MAST
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Maddison G
(2009)
Dimensionless pedestal identity plasmas on Alcator C-Mod and JET
in Nuclear Fusion
R Buttery (Author)
(2009)
Multimachine extrapolation of neoclassical tearing mode physics to ITER
Rubinacci G
(2009)
A fast technique applied to the analysis of Resistive Wall Modes with 3D conducting structures
in Journal of Computational Physics
Van Rooij G
(2009)
Appearance of hot spots due to deposits in the JET MKII-HD outer divertor
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
S Cowley (Author)
(2009)
Fusion's wet blanket
in Nuclear Engineering International
McClements K
(2009)
INERTIAL ALFVÉN WAVE ACCELERATION OF SOLAR FLARE ELECTRONS
in The Astrophysical Journal
Liu Y
(2009)
Modelling resistive wall modes in ITER with self-consistent inclusion of drift kinetic resonances
in Nuclear Fusion
Ruset C
(2009)
Industrial scale 10µmW coating of CFC tiles for ITER-like Wall Project at JET
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Loureiro N
(2009)
Turbulent magnetic reconnection in two dimensions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
| 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 |