Research Needs for Magnetic Fusion Energy Sciences - US Burning ...

evaluation specialists, theory and modeling experts and so on. The pool of available talent
is shrinking rather than growing, which is a major concern.
SaFEty aNd ENviRoNMENt
The Fesac Priorities Panel Report (“Greenwald report”) confirms the potential for safe and environmentally
sound fusion power through a sufficiently comprehensive development pathway.
Fundamental knowledge of the underlying physical phenomena unique in fusion safety and environmental
assessments is vital to ensuring public and worker protection via aspects identified
in the Priorities Panel Report: plant licensing and commissioning, normal operation, off-normal
events, postulated accident scenarios, and decommissioning. The broad areas of safety and environment
gaps addressed in the Priorities Panel Report can be categorized as:
• analysis tools for demonstrating compliance with the no-evacuation criteria.
• a database of materials properties and transport behavior in accident conditions suitable
for benchmarking and validating the analysis tools.
• a protocol for developing codes and standards for fusion systems safety component
qualification.
• an integrated strategy for activated materials management throughout the entire lifecycle
of fusion facilities.
harnessing fusion power for energy production must recognize safety and materials lifecycle
management as fundamental attributes to all aspects of development. The following sections provide
greater perspective on the importance of these two topics.
an intEgRatED SaFEty aPPROaCH
a critical element overlaying gap identification and prioritization is the importance of adequate
safety integration into all levels of fusion facility design, including not only power plants but also
test facilities such as iFmiF, FnsF [Fusion nuclear science Facility], etc. The importance of such
integration is presently being demonstrated as the detailed design and construction of iteR proceeds.
a basis of functional requirements established in the doe Fusion safety standard was implemented
into the iteR design and safety assessment. The approach has led to the early authorization
of iteR’s construction as a nuclear facility under the French regulatory authority. developing
a strategic framework and outlining the research needs for progress in fusion energy science is
most appropriately performed in a fashion requiring safety integration. Thus, research gaps in the
area of safety, particularly in identifying fundamental scientific needs, are effectively addressed
in broad fashion when concept definitions mature and a prioritized development pathway is established.
important lessons were learned during the various phases of iteR design with the integration of
safety experts on the design team. The comprehensive role of safety in iteR includes:
• establishing iteR safety criteria, starting with offsite release criteria and working down
to individual systems. This step was required to effectively implement safety policy.
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