Briefing for National Academy of Sciences Briefing for National Academy of Sciences Board on Physics and Astronomy Board on Physics and Astronomy Presented by: Presented by: Dr. Stephen Eckstrand Dr. Stephen Eckstrand Acting Director Acting Director Office of Fusion Energy Sciences Office of Fusion Energy Sciences Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, U.S. Department of Energy April 24, 2009 April 24, 2009 OFFICE OF SCIENCE
Transcript
Briefing for National Academy of SciencesBriefing for National Academy of SciencesBoard on Physics and AstronomyBoard on Physics and Astronomy
Presented by:Presented by:Dr. Stephen EckstrandDr. Stephen Eckstrand
Acting DirectorActing DirectorOffice of Fusion Energy SciencesOffice of Fusion Energy Sciences
Office of Science, U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Science, U.S. Department of Energy
April 24, 2009April 24, 2009
OFFICE OF
SCIENCE
Fusion Energy Sciences GoalsFusion Energy Sciences Goals
The current fusion energy sciences program is advanced by three linked and synergistic goals:
– Advance the fundamental science of magnetically confined plasmas to develop the predictive capability needed for a sustainable fusion energy source;
– Pursue scientific opportunities and grand challenges in high energy density plasma science to better understand our universe, to enhance national security, and to explore the feasibility of the inertial confinement approach to a fusion energy source; and
– Increase the fundamental understanding of basic plasma science, including low temperature plasma science and engineering, to enhance economic competiveness and to create opportunities for a broader range of science-based applications.
To achieve the fusion energy goal, the FES program needs to further develop the broader scientific and technical understanding of fusion sciences.
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FES Program FutureFES Program Future
For more than 50 years, research in fusion energy sciences has been motivated by the promise of a fundamentally new and attractive energy source based on the nuclear fusion process.
Creating and exploring a burning plasma in ITER—one in which the alpha particles produced by the fusion reactions provide the majority of the heating required to sustain the fusion reactions—is the crucial next step in the magnetic fusion energy science (MFES) program.
Working in collaboration with NNSA to explore an ignited plasma in the National Ignition Facility is the next major step in the inertial fusion energy sciences (IFES) program.
Magnetic confinement research is funded by FES and inertial confinement research is funded primarily by NNSA.
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Progress in Magnetic Fusion ResearchProgress in Magnetic Fusion Research and Next Step to ITERand Next Step to ITER
Years
Meg
awat
ts
10
1,000
100
10
1,000
100
10
100
1,000
Kilo
wat
tsW
atts
Mill
iwat
ts
1,000
100
10
Fusion Power
1975 1985 1995 2005
Data from Tokamak Experiments Worldwide
2015
TFTR(U.S.)
JET(EU)
2025
ITER(Multilateral)
Start of ITER Operations
01
23
456
78
910
Power Gain
TFTR/JET ITER
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Power (MW) Plasma Duration(Seconds)Power
(MW)Duration
(Seconds)Power Gain
(Output/Input)
A Big Next Step to ITERPlasma Parameters
Start of ITER Construction
ITER Operation Full Power Test
Major AccomplishmentsMajor Accomplishments
FES research activities during the past 25 years have led to a wide range of advances in fusion related sciences, including:
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– increasing fusion power output in laboratory experiments by 12 orders of magnitude over the past 4 decades, achieving close to “breakeven” in TFTR and JET
– developing the advanced computation and simulation capability in the areas of energy transport and plasma stability needed to design a tokamak capable of achieving a burning plasma
– fostering international collaboration leading to the initiation of the 35-year U.S. participation in the ITER project
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MFE Research is Integrated Worldwide
DIII-DGeneral Atomics
1985
NSTXPPPL1999 Wendelstein 7-X, Large
SuperconductingStellarator – EU
JET, Large Tokamak – EU
Alcator C-ModMIT1992
ASDEX Upgrade Tokamak– EU
KSTARSuperconducting Tokamak
Korea
EASTSuperconducting Tokamak
China
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U.S. Has World Leading HEDLP Facilities
NIFSandia Z AFRL Shiva Star
OMEGA EP
LMJ, France
SG-III, China
FIREX-1, Japan
Vulcan, UKHiPer, EU
LCLS
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Accomplishing the Mission
To accomplish its mission and address its strategic goals, the FES program is organized into three subprograms
– What are the physical processes that govern the behavior of plasmas, especially high temperature plasmas?
• What limits the pressure in plasmas?• How do hot particles and plasma waves interact in the
nonlinear regime?• What causes plasma transport?• How can high-temperature plasma and material
surfaces co-exist?– How do you create, confine, heat, and control a burning
plasma to make fusion power a reality?
A major goal of the Science subprogram is developing a predictive understanding of fusion plasmas in a range of plasma confinement configurations.
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Science Subprogram How are the Questions Addressed?
Predictive Understanding
Major Tokamak Facilities
Innovative Confinement Schemes
Diagnostics
TheoryComputations
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Science SubprogramScience Subprogram Theory & ComputationsTheory & Computations
Advances in analytic theory, diagnostics, and advanced computations enabled by SC investments in leadership computing facilities—all areas of considerable U.S. leadership— have contributed to the emergence of a predictive scientific understanding of magnetically confined plasmas:
A “standard model” for plasma transport has been developed for understanding turbulence-driven ion heat loss from the core of tokamak plasmas.
High resolution simulations have advanced our understanding of how electromagnetic waves—and the antennas that launch them—interact with plasmas.
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Science SubprogramScience Subprogram Theory & Computations (2)Theory & Computations (2)
U.S. scientists invented a new method for mitigating potentially dangerous Edge Localized Modes (ELMs) in ITER: by perturbing the magnetic field at the edge of ITER-like plasmas, transient power fluxes caused by these instabilities can be eliminated.Massively parallel computational resources were used to carry out the first ever self-consistent simulations of edge plasma turbulence demonstrating the non-local character of thermal transport in the plasma edge driven by Ion Temperature Gradient (ITG) turbulence.
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Small innovative facilities are exploring the potential Small innovative facilities are exploring the potential for improved pathways to magnetic fusionfor improved pathways to magnetic fusion
Steady Inductive Helicity InjectionUniversity of Washington, Seattle
Helically Symmetric ExperimentUniversity of Wisconsin, Madison
(2009) to attain multi-keV, multi-MG fusing plasmas
• Magnetized ICF achieved B fields > 30 MG in the dense plasma of the hot spot (2008)
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Facility Operations SubprogramFacility Operations Subprogram Major Facilities
DIII-D: Largest magnetic fusion experiment in the U.S., located at General Atomics, San Diego, CA. Highly flexible magnetic system with state of the art digital plasma control capability. Extensive plasma diagnostics and coupling to theoretical and computational studies, contributing substantially to resolution of ITER physics design issues and preparations for burning plasma research.
Alcator C-Mod: High field tokamak with all metal walls at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. A major contributor to research on plasma wall interactions and radiofrequency wave heating in support of ITER. Metal first wall materials are being considered for ITER.
National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX): A low-field torus at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, N.J., with a program focus on understanding unique physics of small aspect-ratio tokamaks. Exploits unique ST features to enhance tokamak understanding, contributes to ITER database, and utilizes ST configuration to address key gaps between ITER and DEMO.
International Collaborations : Provides research opportunities on foreign facilities to complement and/or enhance the U.S. fusion program -- EU (JET, ASDEX-UG), Japan (LHD), Korea (KSTAR), and China (EAST) in support of toroidal fusion physics and carrying out coordinated research on ITER physics issues through the International Tokamak Physics Activity (ITPA).
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Enabling R&D SubprogramEnabling R&D Subprogram
Develop the materials and technology for both existing and future facilities, enabling these facilities to achieve higher levels of performance within their inherent capability. In addition, conducts system/tradeoff studies which provide guidance for future directions of the program.Address potential ITER operational issues as well as using it as a test bed for future technologies.Areas of emphasis:
ITER (Latin for “the way”) is a first of a kind major international research collaboration with the goal of demonstrating the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy.The ITER project confronts the grand challenge of creating and understanding a sustained burning plasma for the first time.
– Distinguishing characteristics of a burning plasma are the high level of interaction between the fusion heating, the resulting energetic particles, and the confinement and stability properties of the plasma.
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The Agreement on the Establishment of the ITER International Fusion Energy Organization for the Joint Implementation of the ITER Project (or simply the JIA), entered into force in October 2007 for a period of 35 years.
ITERITER
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ITER Goals- Designed to produce 500 MW of fusion
power (Q > 10) for at least 300-500 seconds
- Will optimize physics and integrate many of the key technologies needed for future fusion power plants
Thirty-five year agreement includes joint design, construction, operation, and decommissioningMembers: EU (Host), China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and the U.S.
ITER Site: Platform leveling ITER Site: Platform leveling (~95% complete)(~95% complete)
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Strategic PlanningStrategic Planning
FES has developed a system of planning and priority setting that draws on advice from groups of outside experts, including the National Academy of Sciences and the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee.
FES is currently engaged in a community-wide effort that will be used by DOE in developing a long-range strategic plan.
2008 2009S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F
2010M A
Complete Long-Range
Strategic Plan
MFES - develop the predictive capability needed for a sustainable fusion energy source
HEDLP – pursue grand challenges and the scientific basis for inertial fusion energy
Basic Plasma - increase the fundamental understanding of basic plasma science, including low temperature plasmas, for a broader range of science- based applications
Prepare Strategic Plan Outlook
Fusion Energy Sciences ProgramResearch Needs Workshops and Strategic Planning Process
Fusion-Fission – understand research needs to combine fission and fusion advantages
MFES Research Themes:•Burning Plasma/ITER•Steady State•Configuration Optimization•Plasma-Material Interface•Fusion Nuclear Science
5 Research Theme Workshops March 2009
Research Thrusts
Workshop May 5-7, 2009
Final Report to OFES July 19
Integration Workshop June 8-13
Report Due to
Congress
Forecast Date to Submit
Report to Congress
Report to OFES
Report to OFES
Report to OFES
Workshop Planned October 2009
Workshop Plans to be determined
Workshop Plans to be determined
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New DirectionsNew Directions
The Fusion Simulation Program (FSP) is a computational initiative led by FES with collaborative support from the Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR).
– aimed at the development of a world-leading, experimentally validated, predictive simulation capability for fusion plasmas in the regimes and geometries relevant for practical fusion energy
FES is implementing a joint program of research with NNSA in HEDLP that was started in FY 2008.
– will advance the exploration of a number of fields of research indentified as priorities by both NAS and FESAC
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BudgetBudget
0
50000
100000
150000
Tokamak ITER Theoryand
SciDAC
EnablingR&D
GeneralPlasmaScience
Other IFE/HEDP NCSX NSTX Other Alts*
Alternates
*Includes: Experimental Plasma Research and Madison Symmetrical Torus
FY07 at $311,664KFY08 at $294,933KFY09 at $402,550K
(Table Dollars in Thousands)
Fusion Simulation
Program
FY09 Highlights:Full funding for ITERIncreases provided for new initiatives and NSTX Upgrade
