The rising demand for clean energy across the world has pushed innovators to explore better alternatives to fossil fuels. In this way, a fusion company with over a decade’s experience is now set to speed up development of its oxidation-resistant vanadium alloys for fusion breeder blankets in spherical tokamaks.
Tokamak Energy, a private firm, plans to deliver fusion energy in the 2030s. The company aims to provide a clean, secure, affordable, and readily available energy source for all.
To accelerate its plan, the firm has received a US Department of Energy INFUSE award.
Path to delivering clean and secure commercial fusion
“ Vanadium base alloys are the leading candidate materials for breeder blanket structures in fusion power plant designs flowing liquid lithium,” said Michael Ginsberg, president of Tokamak Energy Inc.
“This new project will push our understanding forward on the path to delivering clean and secure commercial fusion in the 2030s.”
Vanadium base alloys are leading candidate materials for breeder blanket structures
Leading candidate materials for breeder blanket structures in fusion reactor designs, vanadium base alloys offer excellent lithium compatibility . These also have superior high-temperature mechanical properties compared to reduced activation ferritic-martensitic steels and other structural materials.
Blanket design activities at Tokamak Energy have indicated that a self-cooled liquid lithium blanket without an electrical insulator coating may not be viable due to the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) pressure drop and the resulting parasitic load.
A dual-cooled design with helium as the coolant obviates the need for an insulator coating and provides a more accessible design point .
Ninth INFUSE award received by Tokamak Energy
It is the ninth INFUSE award received by Tokamak Energy, one of eight private companies selected by the DOE as part of the United States’ decadal vision for delivering commercial fusion, according to a press release.
Tokamak Energy will be working with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Birmingham on the project which could expand the use of these materials, enable new design avenues, enhance safety, and improve plant efficiency.
“The INFUSE selections showcase our continuing commitment to the fusion industry in the U.S. and our goal to share widely unique capabilities at national laboratories and U.S. universities,” said Jean Paul Allain, DOE Associate Director of Science for Fusion Energy Sciences.
“Partnering with businesses and working together is a win-win for our fusion industry, the DOE, and the nation.”
If successful, this project could lead to the development of an advanced vanadium-based alloy with enhanced oxidation resistance. This could potentially expand the use of these materials to more diverse environments, enable new design avenues, enhance safety under accident conditions, and improve plant efficiency, according to the release .
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