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
Maddison G
(2009)
Dimensionless pedestal identity plasmas on Alcator C-Mod and JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Chapman I
(2010)
The effect of plasma profile variation on the stability of the n = 1 internal kink mode in rotating tokamak plasmas
in Nuclear Fusion
Liu Y
(2009)
Modelling resistive wall modes in ITER with self-consistent inclusion of drift kinetic resonances
in Nuclear Fusion
Riccardo V
(2009)
Progress in understanding halo current at JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Murakami M
(2009)
Off-axis neutral beam current drive for advanced scenario development in DIII-D
in Nuclear Fusion
Hayashi N
(2009)
Integrated simulation of ELM energy loss and cycle in improved H-mode plasmas
in Nuclear Fusion
Snyder P
(2009)
Pedestal stability comparison and ITER pedestal prediction
in Nuclear Fusion
Kurki-Suonio T
(2009)
ASCOT simulations of fast ion power loads to the plasma-facing components in ITER
in Nuclear Fusion
Valovic M
(2009)
Scaling of H-mode energy confinement with I p and B T in the MAST spherical tokamak
in Nuclear Fusion
Beurskens M
(2009)
Pedestal and scrape-off layer dynamics in ELMy H-mode plasmas in JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Kirk A
(2010)
Resonant magnetic perturbation experiments on MAST using external and internal coils for ELM control
in Nuclear Fusion
Lang P
(2008)
Investigation of pellet-triggered MHD events in ASDEX Upgrade and JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Xu G
(2009)
Blob/hole formation and zonal-flow generation in the edge plasma of the JET tokamak
in Nuclear Fusion
De Vries P
(2009)
Statistical analysis of disruptions in JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Connor J
(2009)
13th EU-US Transport Task Force Workshop on transport in fusion plasmas
in Nuclear Fusion
Arnoux G
(2009)
Heat loads on plasma facing components during disruptions on JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Poli F
(2010)
Spectra of magnetic perturbations triggered by pellets in JET plasmas
in Nuclear Fusion
Alfier A
(2008)
Edge T e and n e profiles during type-I ELM mitigation experiments with perturbation fields on JET
in Nuclear Fusion
Bonheure G
(2009)
A novel method for trace tritium transport studies
in Nuclear Fusion
S Cowley (Author)
(2009)
Fusion's wet blanket
in Nuclear Engineering International
Loureiro N
(2009)
Turbulent magnetic reconnection in two dimensions
in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters
Windsor C
(2008)
Prediction of the Charpy transition temperature in highly irradiated ferritic steels
in Modelling and Simulation in Materials Science and Engineering
Nguyen-Manh D
(2008)
Dislocation Driven Problems in Atomistic Modelling of Materials
in MATERIALS TRANSACTIONS
Duffy D
(2009)
Modeling plasma facing materials for fusion power
in Materials Today
Ward D
(2008)
Economically competitive fusion
in Materials Today
Cackett A
(2019)
Spherical indentation of copper: Crystal plasticity vs experiment
in Materialia
AYED N
(2009)
Alfvén eigenmodes in magnetic X-point configurations with strong longitudinal fields
in Journal of Plasma Physics
Nicholls R
(2008)
How the bond length can affect C 70 DOS and EEL spectra
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Valovic M
(2008)
Particle confinement of pellet-fuelled H-mode plasmas in the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Sircombe N
(2008)
On the role of electron acoustic waves and beam acoustic modes in laser backscatter from plasmas
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Kirk A
(2008)
Comparison of the spatial and temporal structure of type-I ELMs
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Michael C
(2008)
Change of fluctuation properties during non-local temperature rise in LHD from 2d phase contrast imaging
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Meyer H
(2008)
The structure, evolution and role of the radial edge electric field in H-mode and L-mode on MAST
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Kirk A
(2008)
Comparison of the filament behaviour observed during type I ELMs in ASDEX upgrade and MAST
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Oyama N
(2008)
Effect of toroidal field ripple and toroidal rotation on H-mode performance and ELM characteristics in JET/JT-60U similarity experiments
in Journal of Physics: Conference Series
Gilbert M
(2008)
Structure and metastability of mesoscopic vacancy and interstitial loop defects in iron and tungsten
in Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter
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
Sjöstrand H
(2008)
Triton burn-up neutron emission in JET low current plasmas
in Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics
V Kiptily (Co-Author)
(2008)
Super-heated fluid detectors for neutron measurements at JET
in Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials
V Kiptily (Co-Author)
(2008)
Mechanical design of the upgraded JET gamma-ray cameras
in Journal of Optoelectronics and Advanced Materials
Likonen J
(2008)
Structural investigation of re-deposited layers in JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Bekris N
(2009)
Assessment of the flash-lamp photon-cleaning detritiation method tested at JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Uytdenhouwen I
(2009)
Dimple optimization for XPS characterization of TEXTOR tile depositions
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Dudarev S
(2009)
The EU programme for modelling radiation effects in fusion reactor materials: An overview of recent advances and future goals
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Gulejová B
(2009)
SOLPS5 simulations of Type I ELMing H-mode at JET
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Lavrentiev M
(2009)
Magnetic cluster expansion simulations of FeCr alloys
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Roth J
(2009)
Recent analysis of key plasma wall interactions issues for ITER
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Brezinsek S
(2009)
The impact of divertor detachment on carbon sources in JET L-mode discharges
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Nguyen-Manh D
(2009)
Magnetic properties of point defect interaction with impurity atoms in Fe-Cr alloys
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
Eich T
(2009)
On the asymmetries of ELM divertor power deposition in JET and ASDEX Upgrade
in Journal of Nuclear Materials
| 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 |