Conveners
Topic III: Session 1: Chaired by Hiroyasu Tanigawa
- Giacomo Aiello (EUROfusion)
- Kecheng Jiang (Institute of Plasma Physics, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences)
- David Rapisarda (CIEMAT)
- Ivo Moscato (EUROFUSION Consortium)
- Angel Ibarra (CIEMAT)
Topic III: Session 2: Chaired by Salvatore D'Amico
- Mu-Young Ahn (Korea Institute of Fusion Energy)
- Mark Gilbert (CCFE)
- Ranieri Marinari (ENEA Brasimone Research Centre)
- Dmitry Terentyev
This work evaluates the roles of ITER, DONES, and the recently proposed European Volumetric Neutron Source (VNS) in achieving the nuclear qualification of the Breeding Blanket (BB) within the European fusion roadmap. Using a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) framework, it identifies how experimental testing progresses from basic material validation (TRL 4) to full system demonstration (TRL 8)....
Breeding Blanket is in charge of breeding tritium for tritium self-sufficiency, shielding neutron for environment protection and extracting fusion energy for electricity generation. There are three candidate blankets for Chinese Fusion Engineering and Test Reactor (CFETR), including the Helium Cooled Ceramic Breeder (HCCB) Blanket, Water Cooled Ceramic Breeder (WCCB) blanket and supercritical...
IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – DEMO Oriented Neutron Source) has been identified as a strategic facility in the European roadmap toward the achievement of fusion energy. Currently under construction in Granada (Spain) and expected to be operational in 2034, it will be the only installation worldwide capable of producing a high-intensity, fusion-relevant...
The volumetric neutron source (VNS) is a compact beam-driven tokamak with D-T plasma to generate a high neutron flux that will allow the testing and qualification of fusion nuclear components, in particular the breeding blanket. Recently, EUROfusion concluded a feasibility study that confirmed the principal feasibility of the machine and the plant for construction and operation. Also, aspects...
Breeding blanket designs considered for DEMO include not only materials but also technologies, whose behaviour under fusion-like conditions has not yet been tested. Therefore, it is urgent to evaluate these blankets in relevant environments, with emphasis on significant radiation levels. Looking for solutions to qualify and validate the breeding blankets, IFMIF-DONES has launched a new...
In the general framework of the R&D activities supported by the EUROfusion consortium, the development and qualification of the Breeding Blanket (BB) is seen as a mandatory step in the demonstration and deployment of fusion reactors as a successful energy source. The optimal solution for an early BB concept ought to demonstrate the possibility to reach the fuel self-sufficiency, effectively...
A set of different Test Blanket Module (TBM) concepts will be installed on ITER to validate the design and operation in nuclear fusion environment of Breeding Blanket technologies for fusion facilities. The European solid breeder blanket concept HCPB to be tested at ITER uses advanced ceramic breeder (ACB) material containing lithium (Li) in the form of pebbles and Beryllium (Be) material in...
Fuel (tritium) self-sufficiency is a critical requirement for the successful realisation of fusion as a viable energy source. More urgently, even the next generation of fusion experiments and prototype plants may be unable to rely on non-fusion sources of tritium to supply start-up or top-up inventories of tritium, in other words, they are likely to need to be self-sufficient in tritium almost...
The development of breeding blankets is critical for the realization of fusion energy, as they are essential in fuel production and energy generation in fusion reactors. The pre-conceptual design for the K-DEMO blanket has commenced, with the HCCP (Helium-Cooled Ceramic Pebble) blanket concept adopted as the reference design following the KO-EU HCCP TBM project, while other potential design...
