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
Jachmich S
(2009)
Effect of external perturbation fields on divertor particle and heat loads during ELMs at JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
J W Connor (Co-Author)
(2009)
The interaction between transport and reconnection processes
J W Connor (Co-Author)
(2008)
The interaction between tearing modes and transport in plasmas
J W Connor (Author)
(2008)
Linear tearing mode stability equations for a low collisionality:Some details
J W Connor (Author)
(2008)
Edge Localised Modes (ELMs): Experiments and Theory
J McCone (Author)
(2009)
Comparison of measured poloidal rotation in MAST plasmas with neoclassical predictions
J Mailloux (Author)
(2009)
Development of a steady-state scenario in JET with dimensionless parameters approaching ITER target values
Itoh N
(2009)
Making tracks: electronic excitation roles in forming swift heavy ion tracks.
in Journal of physics. Condensed matter : an Institute of Physics journal
Istenic M
(2008)
A 1-MV Magnetically Insulated Tesla Transformer
in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science
Isoardi L
(2010)
Penalization modeling of a limiter in the Tokamak edge plasma
in Journal of Computational Physics
Isoardi L
(2009)
Modelling SOL flow pattern spreading in the edge plasma
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Iraji D
(2008)
Fast visible imaging of turbulent plasma in TORPEX.
in The Review of scientific instruments
I T Chapman (Author)
(2009)
Nonlinear and kinetic effects on resistive wall mode stability
I T Chapman (Author)
(2009)
The physics of sawtooth stabilisation in tokamak plasmas
I Chapman (Co-Author)
(2009)
Sawtooth control mechanism on JET using off-axis toroidally propagating ICRF waves
I Cook (Author)
(2008)
'DEMO' and the route to fusion power
in ATW-International Journal for Nuclear Power
Humphreys D
(2009)
Experimental vertical stability studies for ITER performance and design guidance
in Nuclear Fusion
Huber A
(2009)
Plasma radiation distribution and radiation loads onto the vessel during transient events in JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Hua M
(2010)
Comparison of MHD-induced rotation damping with NTV predictions on MAST
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Hornsby W
(2011)
Interaction of turbulence with magnetic islands: effect on bootstrap current
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Hooker M
(2009)
Industrialization of Radiation-Resistant Cyanate Ester Magnet Insulation
in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity
Homfray D
(2009)
Overview of MAST Neutral Beam System performance
Hole MJ
(2009)
A high resolution Mirnov array for the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Hole M
(2009)
A modulation model for mode splitting of magnetic perturbations in the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Holcomb C
(2009)
Optimizing stability, transport, and divertor operation through plasma shaping for steady-state scenario development in DIII-D
in Physics of Plasmas
Hirai T
(2009)
Failure modes of vacuum plasma spray tungsten coating created on carbon fibre composites under thermal loads
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Hirai T
(2008)
Thermal load testing of erosion-monitoring beryllium marker tile for the ITER-Like Wall Project at JET
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Hemsworth R
(2009)
Status of the ITER heating neutral beam system
in Nuclear Fusion
Hellesen C
(2010)
Neutron emission generated by fast deuterons accelerated with ion cyclotron heating at JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Hellesen C
(2008)
Validating TRANSP simulations using neutron emission spectroscopy with dual sight lines.
in The Review of scientific instruments
Hayashi N
(2009)
Integrated simulation of ELM energy loss and cycle in improved H-mode plasmas
in Nuclear Fusion
Hawryluk R
(2009)
Principal physics developments evaluated in the ITER design review
in Nuclear Fusion
Harrison J
(2009)
Interpretive modelling of scrape-off plasmas on the MAST tokamak
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Han W
(2009)
Revised assessments of the economics of fusion power
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Hamlyn-Harris C
(2009)
Engineering design of an RF vacuum window for the ITER ICRH antenna
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Ham C
(2009)
Rotational stabilization of the resistive wall mode by coupling to a dissipative rational surface
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Haist B
(2009)
Remote handling preparations for JET EP2 shutdown
in Fusion Engineering and Design
Haasz A
(2009)
Thermo-oxidation and analysis of JET codeposits
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
H Meyer (Co-Author)
(2009)
The radial electric field of MAST
H Meyer (Author)
(2009)
Overview of physics results from MAST
Gulejová B
(2009)
SOLPS5 simulations of Type I ELMing H-mode at JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Grünhagen S
(2017)
Techniques for Tritium Recovery from Carbon Flakes and Dust at the JET Active Gas Handling System
in Fusion Science and Technology
Gryaznevich M
(2008)
Recent experiments on Alfvén eigenmodes in MAST
in Nuclear Fusion
Gryaznevich M
(2009)
Results of Joint Experiments and other IAEA activities on research using small tokamaks
in Nuclear Fusion
Gryaznevich M
(2008)
Experimental studies of stability and beta limit in JET
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
Gormezano C
(2017)
Chapter 4: Advanced Tokamak Scenario Development at JET
in Fusion Science and Technology
Goniche M
(2009)
SOL characterization and LH coupling measurements on JET in ITER-relevant conditions
in Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion
Giroud C
(2008)
Impact of calibration technique on measurement accuracy for the JET core charge-exchange system.
in The Review of scientific instruments
| 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 |