The authoritative guide to ensuring science and technology make life on Earth better, not worse.

The fuel supply quandary of fusion power reactors

By Daniel Jassby | November 12, 2024

Artist’s concept of what a burning plasma inside a fusion reactor will look like. Image courtesy of ITER.

The fuel supply quandary of fusion power reactors

By Daniel Jassby | November 12, 2024

Loading...
References

Abdou, M. et al. 2021. “Physics and technology considerations for the deuterium-tritium fuel cycle.” Nuclear Fusion 61, 013001. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/abbf35

Claessens, M. 2023. ITER: The Giant Fusion Reactor, 2nd Edition (Cham, Switzerland: Springer). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37762-4

Clery, D. 2024. “Giant international fusion project is in big trouble.” Science. July 3. https://www.science.org/content/article/giant-international-fusion-project-big-trouble

Creely, A. J. et al. 2020. “Overview of the SPARC Tokamak.” Journal of Plasma Physics 86, Issue 5: 865860502. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022377820001257

Federici, G., F. Maviglia, and J. Holden (eds.). 2022. “Special Issue on European Programme towards DEMO: Outcome of the Pre-Conceptual Design Phase.” Fusion Engineering and Design 178, 113103. https://www.sciencedirect.com/special-issue/10RRZQ6LW4H

Jassby, D. L. et al. 1985. “The TFTR Lithium Blanket Module Program.” Journal of Fusion Energy, Vol. 4, 57-77. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01051639

Jassby, D. 2017. “Fusion reactors: Not what they’re cracked up to be.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. April 19. https://thebulletin.org/2017/04/fusion-reactors-not-what-theyre-cracked-up-to-be/

Jassby, D. 2018. “ITER is a showcase… for the drawbacks of fusion energy.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. February 14. https://thebulletin.org/2018/02/iter-is-a-showcase-for-the-drawbacks-of-fusion-energy/

Jassby, D. 2022. “The Quest for Fusion Energy.” Inference Vol. 7, No. 1. https://doi.org/10.37282/991819.22.30

Keilhacker, M. et al. 1999. “High fusion performance from deuterium-tritium plasmas in JET.” Nuclear Fusion 39, no. 2: 209. https://doi.org/10.1088/0029-5515/39/2/306

Kovari, M. et al. 2018. “Tritium resources available for fusion reactors.” Nuclear Fusion 58, 026010. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/aa9d25

Kritcher, A. L. et al. 2024. “Design of the first fusion experiment to reach target energy gain G > 1.” Physical Review E109, 20521. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.109.025204

Matveev. D. et al. 2023. “Tritium removal from JET-ILW after T and D–T experimental campaigns.” Nuclear Fusion 63, 112014. https://doi.org/10.1088/1741-4326/acf0d4

NASEM (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine). 2021. “Bringing Fusion to the U.S. Grid.” Consensus study report. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (Washington, DC: The National Academies Press) https://doi.org/10.17226/25991

NNSA (National Nuclear Security Administration). 2016. “Production of Tritium in Commercial Light-Water Reactors.” NNSA-USDOE report, National Nuclear Security Administration, US Department of Energy. June 2016. https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2016/06/f32/20160615%20ROD%20for%20Final%20SEIS%20Tritium.pdf

Strachan, J. D. et al. 1997. “TFTR DT experiments.” Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 39, B103. https://doi.org/10.1088/0741-3335/39/12B/008

Tanabe, T. et al. 2003. “Tritium retention of plasma facing components in tokamaks.” Journal of Nuclear Materials 313–316: 478–90. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-3115(02)01377-6

Zylstra, A. B. et al. 2022. “Experimental achievement and signatures of ignition at the National Ignition Facility.” Physical Review E 106, 025202. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.106.025202

Together, we make the world safer.

The Bulletin elevates expert voices above the noise. But as an independent nonprofit organization, our operations depend on the support of readers like you. Help us continue to deliver quality journalism that holds leaders accountable. Your support of our work at any level is important. In return, we promise our coverage will be understandable, influential, vigilant, solution-oriented, and fair-minded. Together we can make a difference.


Get alerts about this thread
Notify of
guest

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Vernon Brechin
Vernon Brechin
7 days ago

This critical assessment, by Daniel Jassby, is not the type of assessments that are sought out by promoters of nuclear fusion energy experimental projects and the funders who perceive of benefits from investing in such projects. This assessment reminded me of prior independent assessment made in the mid-1970s by an academic in New Mexico, regarding the status of the Project Plowshare program. That program involved assessing the use of nuclear explosives for various civil engineering application, including blasting harbors, sea level canals and fracking for natural gas. The studies began in 1958 and then the federal funding was eventually ended… Read more »