Lecture Notes on Nuclear Fusion and the ITER Project

Introduction

• Starts at 4 AM in the south of France, near Marseilles.
• Transporting a component 100 kilometers to ITER site.
• Global energy landscape is in flux; demand for energy is growing.
• Importance of finding safe and clean energy sources urgently mentioned.

Questioning Energy Sources

• Is nuclear fusion the answer to the energy and climate crisis?
• Speculation about future energy sources 100 years from now.

Overview of Nuclear Fusion

• Fusion occurs naturally in the sun, scientists aim to replicate it on Earth.
• Thousands of researchers have spent over 30 years working on fusion technology.

ITER Project Overview

• ITER: The largest and most complex fusion research project in the world.
• Collaboration between the US, Russia, China, Europe, and others.
• Tokamak reactor structure to be established in a few years.
• Designed to demonstrate the feasibility and technology of nuclear fusion.

Scientific Principles

• Fusion vs. fission: Fusion involves merging light particles, while fission involves splitting heavy atoms.
• Initial fuel: Deuterium (from seawater) and Tritium (produced in the reactor).
• Fusion reaction produces energy, ejecting high-energy neutrons and helium.

The Role of the Tokamak

• Tokamak: A donut-shaped vacuum chamber surrounded by magnetic fields.
• Goal: Create conditions similar to the sun for the fusion reaction to occur.
• Central Solenoid: The strongest magnet ever built, playing a crucial role in plasma confinement.

Cost and Scale of ITER

• Estimated cost: 20 billion plus.
• Large scale operation with around 5,000 people working on-site.
• International collaboration brings together different countries and expertise.

Current Work at ITER

• Construction of cryostat (big thermal insulator) currently in progress.
• Vacuum vessel components will allow for plasma generation at extremely high temperatures.

Technical Challenges

• Fusion requires heating plasma to extreme temperatures (150 million degrees Celsius).
• Overcoming electrostatic repulsion between positively charged particles is crucial for successful fusion.
• Numerous technological and material challenges cited, alongside the need for specialist knowledge.

Advantages of Fusion

• Fusion is a nuclear technology with low carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels.
• Generates significantly less waste and has a potential fuel source found in seawater.
• Highly efficient: Just one kilogram of fusion fuel can power similar to a large coal-fired power plant.

Public Perception and Regulation

• Fusion must overcome public fears associated with nuclear power.
• Need for proper regulations to ensure safety and build public trust.

Comparison with Other Technologies

• Renewable energies are intermittent; fusion provides a stable base-load energy supply.
• Comparison with the challenges faced by renewable technologies in producing stable energy sources.

Future Outlook

• Aiming for the first fusion power plant by early 2040s.
• Continued uncertainty regarding investment and economic feasibility.
• Importance of developing a mix of technologies alongside fusion to secure energy for the future.

Conclusion

• Nuclear fusion holds promise as a clean, abundant energy source but faces significant technical, public acceptance, and investment challenges.
• Need for expedited research and engineering efforts towards commercialization of fusion energy.