Nuclear fusion could offer clean, abundant energy. However, managing the power exhausted from the core fusion plasma towards the reactor wall remains a major challenge. This is compounded in emerging compact reactor designs promising more cost-effective pathways towards commercial fusion energy. Alternative Divertor Configurations (ADCs) are a potential solution. In this work, we demonstrate exhaust control in ADCs, employing a novel method to diagnose the neutral gas buffer, which shields the target. Our work on the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak Upgrade shows that ADCs tackle key risks and uncertainties for fusion energy. Their highly reduced sensitivity to perturbations enables active exhaust control in otherwise unfeasible situations and facilitates an increased passive absorption of transients, which would otherwise damage the divertor. We observe a strong decoupling of each divertor from other reactor regions, enabling near-independent control of the divertors and core plasma. Our work showcases the real-world benefits of ADCs for effective heat load management in fusion power reactors.

Kool, B., Verhaegh, K., Derks, G., Wijkamp, T., Koenders, J., Lonigro, N., et al. (2025). Demonstration of Super-X divertor exhaust control for transient heat load management in compact fusion reactors. NATURE ENERGY, 10(9), 1116-1131 [10.1038/s41560-025-01824-7].

Demonstration of Super-X divertor exhaust control for transient heat load management in compact fusion reactors

Nocente M.;Marcer G.;Kushoro M. H.;Gorini G.;Dal Molin A.;Croci G.;Celora A.;Cavedon M.;Caruggi F.;Aucone L.;
2025

Abstract

Nuclear fusion could offer clean, abundant energy. However, managing the power exhausted from the core fusion plasma towards the reactor wall remains a major challenge. This is compounded in emerging compact reactor designs promising more cost-effective pathways towards commercial fusion energy. Alternative Divertor Configurations (ADCs) are a potential solution. In this work, we demonstrate exhaust control in ADCs, employing a novel method to diagnose the neutral gas buffer, which shields the target. Our work on the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak Upgrade shows that ADCs tackle key risks and uncertainties for fusion energy. Their highly reduced sensitivity to perturbations enables active exhaust control in otherwise unfeasible situations and facilitates an increased passive absorption of transients, which would otherwise damage the divertor. We observe a strong decoupling of each divertor from other reactor regions, enabling near-independent control of the divertors and core plasma. Our work showcases the real-world benefits of ADCs for effective heat load management in fusion power reactors.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Cost effectiveness; Electric load management; Electric power plant loads; Fusion reactions; Magnetoplasma; Nuclear energy; Thermal load; Tokamak devices
English
5-set-2025
2025
10
9
1116
1131
open
Kool, B., Verhaegh, K., Derks, G., Wijkamp, T., Koenders, J., Lonigro, N., et al. (2025). Demonstration of Super-X divertor exhaust control for transient heat load management in compact fusion reactors. NATURE ENERGY, 10(9), 1116-1131 [10.1038/s41560-025-01824-7].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/586862
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