1. State Key Laboratory of Technologies in Space Cryogenic Propellants, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China 2. State Key Laboratory of Technologies in Space Cryogenic Propellants, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Fusion energy is considered to be the ultimate energy source, which does not contribute to climate change compared with conventional fossil fuel. It is massive compared with unconventional renewable energy and demonstrates fewer safety features compared with unconventional fission energy. During the past several decades, never-ceasing efforts have been made to peacefully utilize the fusion energy in various approaches, especially inertial confinement and magnetic confinement. In this paper, the main developments of magnetic confinement fusion with emphasis on confinement systems as well as challenges of materials related to superconducting magnet and plasma-facing components are reviewed. The scientific feasibility of magnetic confinement fusion has been demonstrated in JET, TFTR, JT-60, and EAST, which instigates the construction of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). A fusion roadmap to DEMO and commercial fusion power plant has been established and steady progresses have been made to achieve the ultimate energy source.
Rogner H H. World energy demand and supply. IAEA, Vienna, Austria, 2012
4
Betti R, Hurricane O A. Inertial-confinement fusion with lasers. Nature Physics, 2016, 12(5): 435–448 https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3736
5
Craxton R S, Anderson K S, Boehly T R, Goncharov V N, Harding D R, Knauer J P, McCrory R L, McKenty P W, Meyerhofer D D, Myatt J F, Schmitt A J, Sethian J D, Short R W, Skupsky S, Theobald W, Kruer W L, Tanaka K, Betti R, Collins T J B, Delettrez J A, Hu S X, Marozas J A, Maximov A V, Michel D T, Radha P B, Regan S P, Sangster T C, Seka W, Solodov A A, Soures J M, Stoeckl C, Zuegel J D. Direct-drive inertial confinement fusion: a review. Physics of Plasmas, 2015, 22(11): 139–477 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4934714
6
Stacey W M. An Introduction to the Physics and Technology of Magnetic Confinement Fusion. Fusion, Germany: Wiley-VCH, 2010
7
Burdakov A V, Ivanov A A, Kruglyakov E P. Modern magnetic mirrors and their fusion prospects. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2010, 52(12): 124026 https://doi.org/10.1088/0741-3335/52/12/124026
8
Fowler T K, Moir R W, Simonen T C. A new simpler way to obtain high fusion power gain in tandem mirrors. Nuclear Fusion, 2017, 57(5): 056014 https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/aa5e54
Pedersen T S, Otte M, Lazerson S, Helander P, Bozhenkov S, Biedermann C, Klinger T, Wolf R C, Bosch H S, Wendelstein 7-X team. Confirmation of the topology of the Wendelstein 7-X magnetic field to better than 1:100000. Nature Communications, 2016, 7: 13493 https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13493
pmid: 27901043
11
Bosch H S, Brakel R, Braeuer T, Bykov V, Eeten P, Feist J H, Fullenbach F, Gasparotto M, Grote H, Klinger T, Laqua H, Nagel M, Naujoks D, Otte M, Risse K, Rummel T, Schacht J, Spring A, Pedersen T S, Vilbrandt R, Wegener L, Werner A, Wolf R C, Baldzuhn J, Biedermann C, Braune H, Buihenn R, Hirsch M, Hofel U, Kanuer J, Kornejew P, Marsen S, Stange T, Mora H T, and W7-X team. Final integration, commissioning and start of the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator operation. Nuclear Fusion, 2017, 57(11): 116015 https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/aa7cbb
12
Brotankova J, Cadwallader L C, Costley A E. Magnetic Fusion Technology Lecture Notes in Energy. New York: Springer, 2013
13
Ongena J, Koch R, Wolf R, Zohm H. Magnetic-confinement fusion. Nature Physics, 2016, 12(5): 398–410 https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3745
Chapman B E, Almagri A F, Anderson J K, Brower D L, Caspary K J, Clayton D J, Craig D, Hartog D J D, Ding W X, Ennis D A, Fiksel G, Gangadhara S, Kumar S, Magee R M, O’Connell R, Parke E, Prager S C, Reusch J A, Sarff J S, Stephens H D, Yang Y M. Generation and confinement of hot ions and electrons in a reversed-field pinch plasma. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion, 2010, 52(12): 124048 https://doi.org/10.1088/0741-3335/52/12/124048
17
Yamada H, Kasada R, Ozaki A, Sakamoto R, Sakamoto Y, Taken-aga H, Tanaka T, Tanigawa H, Okano K, Tobita K, Kaneko O, Ushigusa K. Japanese endeavors to establish technological bases for DEMO. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2016, 109–111, part B: 1318–1325 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2015.12.035
18
Brown T, Titus P, Brooks A, Zhang H, Neilson H, Im K, Kim K. Results of availability imposed configuration details developed for K-DEMO. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2016, 109–111, part B: 1091–1095 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2016.01.018
19
Federici G, Kemp R, Ward D, Bachmann C, Franke T, Gonzalez S, Lowry C, Gadomska M, Harman J, Meszaros B, Morlock C, Romanelli F, Wenninger R. Overview of EU DEMO design and R&D activities. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2014, 89(7–8): 882–889 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2014.01.070
20
Zheng J, Liu X, Song Y, Wan Y, Li J, Wu S, Wan B, Ye M, Wei J, Xu W, Liu S, Weng P, Lu K, Luo Z. Concept design of CFETR superconducting magnet system based on different maintenance ports. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2013, 88(11): 2960–2966 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2013.06.008
21
Buckingham R, Loving A. Remote-handling challenges in fusion research and beyond. Nature Physics, 2016, 12(5): 391–393 https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys3755
22
Bruzzone P. Superconductivity and fusion energy-the inseparable companions. Superconductor Science and Technology, 2015, 28(2): 708–718 https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-2048/28/2/024001
23
Pan X F, Feng Y, Yan G, Cui L J, Chen C, Zhang Y, Wu Z X, Liu X H, Zhang P X, Bai Z M, Zhao Y, Li L F. Manufacture, electromagnetic properties and microstructure of an 18-filament jelly-roll Nb3Al superconducting wire with rapid heating and quenching heat-treatment. Superconductor Science and Technology, 2016, 29(1): 015008 https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-2048/29/1/015008
24
Fietz W H, Barth C, Drotziger S, Goldacker W, Heller R, Schlachter S I, Weiss K P. Prospects of high temperature superconductors for fusion magnets and power applications. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2013, 88(6–8): 440–445 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2013.03.059
25
Uglietti D, Bykovsky N, Wesche R, Bruzzone P. Development of HTS conductors for fusion magnets. IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 2015, 25(3): 1–6 https://doi.org/10.1109/TASC.2014.2364715
26
Qin J G, Wu Y, Li J G, Dai C, Liu F. Manufacture and test of Bi-2212 cable-in-conduit conductor. IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, 2017, 27(4): 1–5
27
Zhou T, Lu K, Ran Q, Ding K, Feng H, Wu H, Liu C, Song Y, Niu E, Bauer P, Devred A. Mock-up qualification and prototype manufacture for ITER current leads. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2015, 96–97: 388–391 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2015.04.050
28
Nishimura A. Need for development of higher strength cryogenic structural materials for fusion magnet. Advances in Cryogenic Engineering, 2014, 60: 333–339
29
Shen T, Li P, Jiang J, Cooley L, Tompkins J, McRae D, Walsh R. High strength kiloampere Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox cables for high-field magnet applications. Superconductor Science and Technology, 2015, 28(6): 065002 https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-2048/28/6/065002
30
Zinkle S J, Möslang A. Evaluation of irradiation facility options for fusion materials research and development. Fusion Engineering and Design, 2013, 88(6–8): 472–482 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fusengdes.2013.02.081
Snead L L, Nozawa T, Ferraris M, Katoh Y, Shinavski R, Sawan M. Silicon carbide composites as fusion power reactor structural materials. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2011, 417(1–3): 330–339 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2011.03.005
Kurtz R J, Alamo A, Lucon E, Huang Q, Jitsukawa S, Kimura A, Klueh R L, Odette G R, Petersen C, Sokolov M A, Spätig P, Rensman J W. Recent progress toward development of reduced activation ferritic/martensitic steels for fusion structural applications. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2009, 386(5): 411–417 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2008.12.323
Knaster J, Chel S, Fischer U, Groeschel F, Heidinger R, Ibarra A, Micciche G, Möslang A, Sugimoto M, Wakai E. IFMIF, a fusion relevant neutron source for material irradiation current status. Journal of Nuclear Materials, 2014, 453(1–3): 115–119 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jnucmat.2014.06.051
