UKAEA teams up with Kyoto Fusioneering

In a statement announcing the collaboration, UKAEA said it reaffirms the strategic partnership between the UK and Japan, and is based on ‘a mutual commitment to deliver sustainable, commercial fusion energy for generations to come’.

The first project will involve the development of a ‘fusion-grade’ silicon carbide composite system (SiC/SiC), suitable for use as a structural material inside a fusion machine and to understand its stability under simulated fusion conditions.

According to UKAEA, the use of SiC/SiC composites within the breeder blanket of a fusion machine will increase the efficiency and commercial viability of fusion power stations by providing a material that operates at high-temperatures and is resistant to neutron damage.

The Self-Cooled Yuryo Lithium Lead Advanced (SCYLLA) blanket developed by KF is compatible with the lithium-lead based coolant and fuel breeding fluids. Novel materials enable compatibility with the corrosive lithium lead, the company said.

KF specialises in the design, experimentation, and manufacturing of silicon carbide materials. The company possesses know-how in making the raw materials for SiC/SiC and manufacturing of silicon carbide composite components, both in-house and in industrial processes.