How nuclear fusion (maybe) works (4) - reactor practicalities
Channel: Improbable Matter
Date: 2023-05-15

Discussion of practical elements of any future nuclear fusion power plant.
This video is released under a Creative Commons licence.

Contents
00:00 - Introduction
00:26 - Maintaining a vacuum
05:23 - Introduction
06:55 - Getting energy out
10:06 - Neutrons
13:51 - Neutron activation
19:00 - Tritium breeding
21:31 - Fission-fusion hybrid
22:12 - Neutron damage
27:43 - Long-term prospects
29:01 - Summary

References
[1] Welcome to Planet ITER: a technical tour of the worksite by iterorganization
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvsj0nqHwic
[2] M. Reinhart et al., “Latest results of Eurofusion plasma-facing components research in the areas of power loading, material erosion and fuel retention”, Nuclear Fusion 62, 042013 (2022).
[3] ITER Cryopump https://www.iter.org/newsline/-/2721
[4] The first high-speed colour video from the COMPASS tokamak
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhHsOwLdCu4
[5] Aerial photo of Culham Science Centre, UK Atomic Energy Authority,
https://ccfe.ukaea.uk/about-ccfe/history/culham-site/
[6] ITER view, ITER Organization/EJF Riche
https://www.iter.org/org/ITERinFrance
[7] National Ignition Facility's target chamber
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:National_Ignition_Facility%27s_target_chamber.jpg
[8] S. Das, “Recent advances in characterising irradiation damage in tungsten for fusion power” SN Applied Sciences 1, 1614 (2019).
[9] K. Niu, “Nuclear Fusion”, (CUP 1989). ISBN:  978-0-521-11354-0
[10] B. Labit et al., “Experimental studies of the snowﬂake divertor in TCV” Nuclear Materials and Energy 12, 1015 (2017).
[11] Nuclear power plant in Cattenom, France (User: Stefan Kühn)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nuclear_Power_Plant_Cattenom.jpg
[12] Advanced Test Reactor by Argonne National Laboratory,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Advanced_Test_Reactor.jpg
[13] J. E. Menard et al. “Fusion nuclear science facilities and pilot plants based on the spherical tokamak”, Nuclear Fusion 56, 106023 (2016).
[14] Carbon fiber laminated sheet (User: Racingjeff)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carbonsheetwiki1.png
[15] Raíl de ferrocarril en Roma, Gotland (User: Bene Riobó)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Raíl_en_Roma,_Gotland.jpg
[16] S. M. Gonzalez de Vicente et al., “Overview on the management of radioactive waste from fusion facilities: ITER, demonstration machines and power plants” Nuclear Fusion 62, 085001 (2022).
[17] Core of the BR2 reactor by Dmitry Terentyev (SCK CEN: Belgian Nuclear Research Centre)
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/neutrons-blast-fusion-materials-in-new-iaea-project
[18] ITER Assembly - In-Vessel components by iterorganization
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt70mO2nQac
[19] Remote handling work inside the JET Tokamak by EUROfusion
[20] X. Hu et al., “Transmutation-induced Precipitation in Tungsten Irradiated with A Mixed Energy Neutron Spectrum” Acta Materialia 165, 51 (2019).
[21] M. Rubel et al., “Application of Ion Beam Analysis in Studies of First Wall Materials in Controlled Fusion Devices” Physics 4, 37 (2022).
[22] Side view of a rack of billiards balls being broken (User: MarkBuckawicki)
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Quick_Pool_Break.webm
[23] L. L Snead et al., “Irradiation Effects on Dielectric Mirrors in Inertial Fusion Power Reactor Application”, Fusion Science and Technology, 56, 1069 (2009).
[24] B. I. Khripunov et al., “Thermonuclear Fusion Reactor Plasma-Facing Materials under Conditions of Ion Irradiation and Plasma Flux”, Symmetry 13, 2081 (2021).
[25] J. Chen et al., “Study on microstructural evolution and constitutive modeling for hot deformation behavior of a low-carbon RAFM steel”, Journal of the Material Research Society 32, 1376 (2017).
[26] Roman Husák et al., “ODS EUROFER Steel Strengthened by Y-(Ce, Hf, La, Sc, and Zr) Complex Oxides”, Metals 9, 1148 (2019).
[27] IFMIF/EVEDA Website, https://www.ifmif.org/gallery/
[28] https://www.statista.com/
[29] Physics of Uranium and Nuclear Energy,
https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/introduction/physics-of-nuclear-energy.aspx