Speaker & PanellistDr. Axel Meisen, CM, PhD, FCAE

Interim President, FECC

Speaker & PanellistProf. Robert Fedosejevs, PhD

Board Member at Large, FECC

PanellistProf. Allan Offenberger, PhD

Board Member at Large, FECC

ConvenorDr. Ron Oberth, PhD, MBAPresident, & CEO OCNI

FECC – OCNI MOU – MARCH 11, 2021

FECC and OCNI will collaborate in:

• Communicating the benefits of fusion energy to public and technical audiences in Canada

• Encouraging technical exchanges amoung Canadian fusion specialists and the Canadian nuclear supply chain

• Hosting joint technical and informational seminars and webinars on fusion energy

Analogy: Human Flight

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1485 1783Antiquity

Analogy: Human Flight

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1903 1903

Fusion Energy

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Fundamentals

Fusion:Light nuclei combine to form larger nuclei and neutrons

Slide 7Change in mass is converted into energy

Fission:Heavy nuclei split to form smaller nuclei and neutrons

Energy Energy

2H

3H

4He

n

Fusion Energy Production: Current Approach

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2H + 3H → 4He + 1n 17.5 MeV1n + 6Li → 4He + 3H 4.8 MeV

Overall 2H + 6Li → 2 4He 22.3 MeV

1 kg of 2H requires 5 kg heavy water3 kg 6Li

yields 300,000 MW h energyequivalent to 135,000 bbl petroleum

Fusion Energy Production: Current Approach

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1 million bblpetroleum ≡ 2,200,000 MW h energy

7.4 kg 2H22 kg 6Li

37 kg heavy waterfrom≡

Overall 2H + 6Li → 2 4He 22.3 MeV

Some Fusion Reactions – no radioactive products

(1a) 2H + 3H → 4He + 1n + energy (17.6 MeV) (D-T fusion)(1b) 1n + 6Li → 4He + 3H + energy ( 4.8 MeV) (3H fuel breeding cycle)(1c) 1n (fast) + 7Li → 4He + 3H + 1n (-2.4 MeV) (3H fuel breeding cycle)

(2a) 2H + 2H → 3H + p+ + energy (4.03 MeV) (50%) (D-D fusion, no T breeding)(2b) 2H + 2H → 3He + 1n + energy (3.27 MeV) (50%)(2c) 2H + 3He → 4He + p+ + energy (18.3 MeV)

(3) p+ + 11B → 3 4He + energy (8.7 MeV) (p-B11 fusion, no neutrons)

Nomenclature: : 1H+=p+ (proton); 2H=D (deuteron or deuterium); 3H=T (triton or tritium); ); 4H=alpha particle

Fusion reaction (change of mass), releases energy E=Δm c2, > million x chemical reaction energy

Energy From Fusion Reactions

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Fusion reactions require high energy ● to overcome Coulomb repulsion of (positive) nuclei ● temperature T ~ 100 MK, KE/particle ~ 10 keV● all matter is ionized at high T to form a plasma (4th state of matter)

Plasma (ions & electrons) must be confined ● energetic particles escape very rapidly ( vDeuterium ~ 1 x 106 m/s at 10 keV)● need confinement mechanism to ensure enough reactions occur to give net energy yield

Plasma burn● to maintain burning plasma use alpha particle heating● alpha particles released by fusion reactions are very collisional● requires minimum reaction volume

Fusion Reactions

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Pfus = nD nT <συ> Efus

Efus = 17.6 MeV (D-T)

Require sufficient particle energy for strong nuclear force to “overcome” Coulomb repulsive force – quantum tunneling at close range

For D-T fusion Power Per Unit Volume

Fusion Reactivity

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Fusion - Lawson Criterion

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n τ E > 2x1020 s/m3 (D-T)

n = plasma density ( n = ni = ne )τE = Energy Confinement Time

Leads to Lawson Breakeven Criterion

RequirePfus > Ploss

● Need high temperature for ignition: Tign ≥ 100 million deg K

● Need confinement for net energy out: nτ > 2x1020 m-3 sec

● Burning occurs when heating is self-sustained (by helium from fusion)

● Two confinement approaches: (i) magnetic (MFE); (ii) inertial (IFE)

MFE – ignition requiresohmic & auxiliary heating

Fuel Burn

IFE – ignition requires driver beamsto heat & compress target

Meeting Conditions for Fusion Energy

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Tokamak StellaratorsSolenoids-Pinches

Magnetic mirror –

simple concept

Steady-state but

complex fields

Pulsed operation w/o

self-external-heating

Charged particles gyrate about & flow along magnetic field lines

Lorentz force = q v x B

MFE – Some Approaches

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Parallel motion, Gyration, E cross B drift, Polarization drift , Curvature & grad B drift

For Toroidal Plasma:Combined Drifts Lead to loss of plasma

Charged Particles Drifts in Magnetic FieldsCharged particles also drift slowly across magnetic field lines leading to loss of plasma

Complex Drift due to Magnetic and Electric Forces

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Add toroidal current to generate poloidal field – causes plasma to spiral around the torus stabilizing the outward drift

Tokamak Solution to Stabilize Drift

PoloidalMagnetic Field

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MCF requires auxiliary heating to achieve ignition – neutral beam injection; electromagnetic heating

Objective: to achieve low density steady-state burning (Q=10); test technologies; tritium breeding

Q = Pout/Pin > 1

ITER – International Project in France to scale-up Tokamak (operational by 2027)

Plasma drifts & Instabilities limit confinement

β = plasma pressure / magnetic pressure

β = <P>/(B2/2 μo) ≈< 0.1

Tokamak – Most Advanced Magnetic

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Tokamaks – Instabilities Limit on β – parameter

β = plasma pressure / magnetic pressure

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Laser Driven - Fusion capsule imploded by laser beams into a central hot spot leading to Central Ignition of Fusion Reactions

Uses shaped laser pulse

Laser Intensity = 500 TW/cm2

Requires fuel compression for net energy gain

IFE – Some Approaches

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GenerateElectricity

Two compression pathways – direct & indirect drive

Indirect – laser irradiated hohlraum– laser energy converted to x-rays

which then compress & heat target

HeatHelium

Laser irradiation Ablation/compression Ignition Burn

How Inertial Fusion Works

Direct – laser compresses and heats fuel pellet directly

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● Magnetic fusion (continuous, power delivery)- ~ 50 MW heater beams- pressure <10atm- ~1 MW/m3; large volume, low density- ~1 MW/m2 wall irradiance (radiation, charged particles, neutrons)

● Inertial fusion (pulsed, repetitive energy delivery, ~10 Hz)- High Energy Laser Diver Pulse ~ 1 MJ- pressure >1011 atm- small volume (~100 µm), high density - short burn time ~10-10 sec- operates like a “diesel engine”

Relative Power/Energy Density – D-T Fusion

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Tokamaks – Progress

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ITER will explore the region of high gain (Q ~ 10) and ignition ( planned 2035)

ITER International Tokamak (~$25B, 40 years)

Magnetic Fusion – Progress

JET Joint European Tokamak - holds current record of Q=0.6- will try for Q =1 in 2021

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JET – 100 m3

P = 16 MW; Q=0.65

ITER – 1,000 m3

P = 500 MW; Q=10R = 6.2m; τpulse=400 sec

MFE Scaling (JET and ITER)

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ITER Current Construction Progress Cadarache France (~ 50% complete)https://www.iter.org/

ITER – 1,000 m3

P = 500 MW; Q=10R = 6.2m; τpulse=400 sec

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Indirect drive at LLNL

Inertial Fusion - Progress

National Ignition Facility (NIF)at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

• 160kJ neutron energy per pulse• within a factor of ~2 of ignition and burn

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Inertial Fusion - NIFLawrence Livermore National Laboratory, USANational Ignition Facility (NIF)

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Wendelstein 7-X(does not require drive current, larger volume)

Steady-state alternative to Tokamak

Magnetic Confinement – Alternative Approach: Stellarator

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Commonwealth Fusion Systems, MA, USA

Advanced Approaches - Developing Higher Field, Compact Toroidal Systems

Tokamak Energy, Oxfordshire, UK

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Fast Ignition Shock Ignition

Uses PW, ps Pulse as an igniter SparkLaser Intensity=1020 W/cm2

Uses high power peak at the end of a shaped compression pulse to drive a strong shock wave to ignite the compressed fuel

Advanced Approaches to IFE – Fast Ignition and Shock Ignition Concepts

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Laser driver is a major capital cost item

Improved Performance for Advanced Laser ConceptsHigher Gain at Reduced Laser Energy

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Commonwealth Fusion Systems, MA, USA

General Fusion, Burnaby, CanadaTri-Alpha Energy (TAE), CA, USA

Companies with Fusion Goals for 2030’sTokamak Energy, Oxfordshire, UK

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First Light fusion, Oxford, UK

HB11, NSW, Australia

Companies with Fusion Goals for 2030’s 2nd slide

● A number of companies are pursuing alternative concept approaches

● Private Investments of tens of millions to hundreds of millions of dollars

Helion Energy, WA, USA

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● Control of plasma instabilities (require better diagnostics and 3D simulations)

● Achievement of ignition and gain of Q ≥ 10 (large scale experiments, ~ $1-5B each)

● Real time tritium breeding and extraction (develop much faster processing techniques)

● Neutron damage and activation- develop low activation steels and materials- develop neutron damage resistant materials ( ~100 dpa lifetimes)

● Robotics for remote servicing of all components- radiation tolerant robotics for servicing and maintenance

Science and Engineering Challenges

Each technical area requires ~ 10 years of R&D ⇒Could be done in parallel

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Example Reactor Activation (only waste product produced)

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● Mitigation of Major Disruptions (rapid injection of cold gas pellets)

● High field, high temperature superconductors

● Fueling - continuous injection of D/T fuel pellets

● Radiation damage resistance of cryogenic magnets and systems (advanced materials)

● Extreme power flux on divertor panels (high temperature refractory alloys, high efficiency cooling)

MFE - Specific Science and Engineering Challenges

Challenges being addressed in various MFE research programs around the world

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● Control of laser-plasma and plasma instabilities (target design and laser drive)

● Efficient broad-band laser drivers (> 10% electric to optical efficiency)- >20% efficient diode pumped lasers under development- requires special spectral characteristics to mitigate instabilities

● High damage resistance optical components

● Mass production of fuel pellets ( microfluidic and other manufacturing techniques)

IFE - Specific Science and Engineering Challenges

Challenges being addressed in numerous Laser facilities around the world

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Fusion Business Challenges

Funding

Personnel

Markets

StrategyFECC

with partners

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Fusion Implications for Canadian Industries

New tech sector

Electro-chemistry

EPC oppor’ties

Finance & insurance

Circular economy

Electri-fication

New materials

FECCwith partners

Environ’lsustain’ty

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Fusion Implications for Canadians

New jobs

Job tran-sitions

Energy security

Environ’lquality

FECCwith partners

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Conclusions

1. Fusion energy and uses will become new realities, with great potential and challenges

2. Canada must participate in creating the new fusion realities3. Partnerships and collaboration accelerate fusion realization4. Nuclear fusion and fission are symbiotic sectors5. FECC and OCNI are symbiotic partners with great futures

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Acknowledgement and Ownership

Some images in this presentation were taken from publicly available websites, with their use being gratefully acknowledged and restricted to this presentation.

The Fusion Energy Council of Canada (FECC) is the sole owner of this presentation, which was prepared by Axel Meisen and Robert Fedosejevs. The presentation and its contents are for informational and educational purposes only. FECC is a non-profit organization.

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Speaker & PanellistDr. Axel Meisen, CM, PhD, FCAE

Interim President, FECC

Speaker & PanellistProf. Robert Fedosejevs, PhD

Board Member at Large, FECC

PanellistProf. Allan Offenberger, PhD

Board Member at Large, FECC

ConvenorDr. Ron Oberth, PhD, MBAPresident, & CEO OCNI

Questions & Answers