An overview of shared technical challenges for magnetic and inertial fusion power plant development

• Published in: Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences Vol. 379; no. 2189; p. 20200019
• Main Authors: Chapman, I T, Walkden, N R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 25.01.2021
• Subjects: fusion; inertial confinement; tokamak; magnetic confinement
• ISSN: 1364-503X; 1471-2962
• DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2020.0019

Fusion energy is an area of active development and innovation worldwide, with many design concepts studied, each exhibiting a range of technical challenges. A significant portion of technical challenges will be unique for a given design concept; however, there are several overarching challenges that any design must address to some degree. These include tritium handling and the tritium cycle; materials and their survivability in the high-energy neutron environment of D-T fusion; neutronics and the validation of nuclear data; remote handling and maintenance activities; and integrated holistic approaches to fusion plant design. This paper provides an overview of these aspects for magnetic and inertial fusion approaches with a view to highlighting commonality and the benefits of shared knowledge that this may bring. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Prospects for high gain inertial fusion energy (part 2)'.