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Development of Steady-State Compact Fusion Neutron Sources
Closed for proposals
Project Type
Project Code
F13018CRP
2112Approved Date
Start Date
Expected End Date
Completed Date
20 April 2022Participating Countries
Description
Both the fusion and fission energy sectors need the availability of intense neutron sources to aid in their development and solve their fuel cycle problems. Moreover, the availability of neutron sources with high intensity and high flux will broaden the scope of basic research and technology activities including fusion nuclear science, materials development, neutron scattering, neutron dipole moment measurements, transmutation and components testing for fusion and fission applications. The previous CRP on “conceptual development of steady-state compact fusion neutron sources“ confirmed that reasonable extrapolations from current magnetic confinement fusion devices indicate the potential for providing intensities up to 1020 n/s and fluxes higher than 1015 n/cm2s in the near term feature. The objectives of the present CRP are to support the transition from conceptual to engineering design activities for considered compact fusion neutron sources with emphasis on fast tracks to early applications. In particular it aims at establishing the suitability of steady-state compact fusion neutron sources (CFNS) with typical fusion power in the range 1-100 MW (intensity 3.5x1017—1019 n/s), neutron wall loading in the range 0.1—1 MW/m2, for dedicated applications in fusion, fission and other sectors, targeted products and services. This CRP will help lay, through building collaborations among scientists in the Member States and integrating inputs from stakeholders into design activities for CFNS, the foundation for practical applications of fusion neutron sources.
Objectives
The overall objective of this CRP is to: (i) support research on and the development of steady-state compact fusion neutron sources for scientific, technological and nuclear energy applications in both the fusion and the fission sectors; (ii) support the transition from conceptual to engineering design activities for the considered compact fusion neutron sources with emphasis on fast tracks to early applications.
Specific objectives
To formulate concepts for enabling technologies and associated materials and propose corresponding R&D programmes supporting the transition to engineering design.
To explore plasma parameter spaces for optimizing core and edge plasma performance for neutron production at fusion energy gain value Q = 0.1—1.
To establish the suitability of steady-state compact fusion neutron sources (CFNS) with typical fusion power in the range 1-100 MW (intensity 3.5x1017—1019 n/s), neutron wall loading in the range 0.1—1 MW/m2, for dedicated applications, targeted products and services.
To develop simulation tools for plasma, nuclear processes and their interaction.
To address facility safety issues at plant systems level and integrated level as applicable.
To bring together the stake holders and end users (such as the nuclear energy sector including fusion and fission, the basic research sector, biology and medicine sectors) of fusion neutrons for fine tuning specific design requirements for CFNS.
Impact
Collaboration between researchers, such as in the case of this CRP, is key for the successful development of fusion neutron sources (FNS). This provided opportunities to formulate and propose experiments on existing experimental devices in support of FNS concepts, as well as facilitated expert missions, training at existing facilities (experimental devices), and software (computational modelling) development.
Relevance
High-power steady-state fusion neutron sources (FNS), which can be complementary to accelerator-based facilities such as the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) and other low-power neutron sources, are crucial for the development and deployment of nuclear fusion technology. Because DEMO engineering design activities require component test facilities to test and qualify different components and modules, several countries, including China, Korea, Ukraine, Russia, and USA are developing FNS designs as part of their roadmap to fusion power. The CRP featured most the FNS projects under development worldwide.
In addition, FNS have other important practical uses, including the production of various isotopes, such as tritium, driving subcritical cores, characterizing spent nuclear fuel, and manufacturing medical isotopes. Some of these applications are also discussed in the TECDOC.