Design rules to simplfy running of fusion reactors

Designing a reactor with the simplest structure possible can reduce maintenance periods, as well as building expenses and overhead costs.

Since 1995, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has participated in two international projects aimed at building a full-scale fusion reactor and commercialising fusion as an energy source.

ITER and DEMO (DEMOnstration Power Plant) are international programmes targeting the harnessing of fusion energy for energy production and VTT has developed remote handling systems for critical reactor parts. The research organisation says remote handling and virtual technologies are crucial in fusion reactor maintenance because of radiation and limited space in the interior sections of a reactor. These restrict accessibility and render remote handling the single viable maintenance option.

ITER is an experimental nuclear fusion reactor currently being built to test various technologies and materials for use in fusion reactors. DEMO, the first prototype of a commercial fusion power plant, will be built if ITER is successful.