Fusion Energy Powering the XXI century

Fusion EnergyFusion Energy

Powering the XXI centuryPowering the XXI century

Carlos Matos Ferreira, Carlos Carlos Matos Ferreira, Carlos VarandasVarandas and Duarte and Duarte BorbaBorba

InstitutoInstituto Superior Superior TTéécnicocnico, , LisboaLisboa, Portugal, Portugal

20th International Atomic Energy Agency, Fusion Energy Conference, Vilamoura, Portugal

OutlineOutline

•• World Energy ConsumptionWorld Energy Consumption

•• Global WarmingGlobal Warming

•• Advantages of Fusion energyAdvantages of Fusion energy

•• Present machines close to breakevenPresent machines close to breakeven

•• ITER (Next step device)ITER (Next step device)

•• SummarySummary


World populationand energydemand growingrapidly

Predictionssuggest stronggrowth willcontinue


Assuming that theworld populationstabilises at 10 Billion

World energyconsumption willexceed the currentenergy sources

Shortfall must besupplied byalternative sources


World energyconsumption isdominated by the useof fossil fuels

The use of fossil fuelsposes seriousenvironmental problemsdue to emission ofgreenhouse gases to theatmosphere


Average temperature in the northhemisphere at the surface

CO2 concentrationreadings

Temperaturereadings

CO2 datafrom ice

cores

Global warmingis alreadyhappening

There is evidence thatthe main cause ofrecent global warmingis atmosphericpollution


Global temperatureincreases of 1-3degrees is forecasted,depending on theglobal CO2 emissions,in the next 100 years

Natural causes Human Impact

Combined(Natural andHuman impact)

Average globaltemperature atthe surface

Data

Models

Global temperatureincreases of 1-3degrees will have amajor impact on theglobal environment


Number ofdays with

maximumtemperatureabove 35ºC

1961-1990 Optimistic scenario Pessimistic Scenario

Portugal


Sources of Energy in XXISources of Energy in XXI

Nuclear FissionNuclear Fission (Long term, High level (Long term, High level radioactive waste)radioactive waste)

Fossil fuelsFossil fuels (Coal) (Coal) (Green house gas (Green house gas emissions and Global warming)emissions and Global warming)

RenewablesRenewables (Solar,Wind) (not suitable for (not suitable for very large energy demands very large energy demands peak power >>1GWpeak power >>1GW))

Nuclear FusionNuclear Fusion (Safe & low level radioactive (Safe & low level radioactive waste, no atmospheric pollution)waste, no atmospheric pollution)


Deuterium available for millions of years Lithium (to produce Tritium) available forthousands of years

Fuel abundant (available world-wide)

No Greenhouse gases (CO, CO2) and no acid rain(SO2, NO2)

Short life radioactivity (associated with plant activation)No need for transport of activated materials


Progress in fusion canbe compared with thecomputing power andparticle physicsaccelerator energy

Present machines producesignificant fusion power(TFTR 10MW in 1994) and(JET 16MW in 1997)


Present machines areclose to produce fusionenergy comparable withthe energy required tosustain the plasma(breakeven)

Next step devices (ITER)are expected to producesignificantly more fusionenergy than the energyrequired to sustain theplasma (close to Ignition)


NegativeNegative

NeutralNeutral

BeamsBeams

Active MHDActive MHD

StabilisationStabilisationTritiumTritium

TritiumTritium

RemoteRemote

HandlingHandling

PlasmaPlasma

SurfaceSurface

InteractionsInteractions

TungstenTungsten

WallWallLongLong

PulsePulseSpecificity

5 MA3.5 MA2.5 MA7 MA7 MA0.65 MA1.6 MA1.7 MAPlasma

current

4.4 T2.2 T5.2 T5.2 T3.45 T2 T4 T4.5 TToroidal field

3.45 m1.67 m2.48 m2.96 m2.96 m1.75 m1.65 m2.36 mMajor radius

DivertorDivertorLimiterDivertorLimiterDivertorLimiterPlasma

Configuration

JT-60U

(Japan)DIIID (USA)

TFTR

(USA)

(machin

e

closed)

JET

(European

Union in

the UK)

Textor

(Germany)

Asdex-U

(Germany)

Tore Supra

(France)Tokamak

Main Main tokamakstokamaks around the world around the world


30 years


2.5%, 0.7T, P

1010Q(PQ(Pfusfus/P/Pinin))

85P (MW)

40-90Paux (MW)

410410PPfusfus (MW) (MW)

15(17)IP (MA)

5.3Bt (T)

20002000flat-top length (s)flat-top length (s)

2a (m)

6.2R (m)

ITER will be a nuclear machine: 1.5 x 1020 neutrons/s


SummarySummary

Presently 2 options exist for large scale energy production in thePresently 2 options exist for large scale energy production in thesecond half of XXI century:second half of XXI century:

Nuclear FissionNuclear Fission (Long term, High level (Long term, High level radioactive waste)radioactive waste)

Fossil fuelsFossil fuels (Coal) (Coal) (Green house gas emissions and global (Green house gas emissions and globalwarming)warming)

RenewablesRenewables cannot provide a solution for the global energyproblem

We need a 3rd option:We need a 3rd option:

Nuclear FusionNuclear Fusion (Safe & low level radioactive waste, no (Safe & low level radioactive waste, no atmospheric pollution)atmospheric pollution)


Documents

Fusion Energy Powering the XXI century