Status of research
IPP’s DEMO Studies project treats physical and technological questions that have to be clarified for preparation of a demonstration power plant.
The ITER test reactor is to show that it is possible in principle to produce energy from fusion.
To allow construction of the subsequently planned demonstration power plant, it is necessary to consider all physical and technological requirements in context and reconcile them in their respective boundary conditions.
On the physics side, challenges are presented with the cultivation of Advanced Scenario plasma discharges with high plasma density and pressure and yet with wall-sparing direction of the plasma.
On the technology side, robust wall materials, high-temperature blankets, and energy-efficient heating and current drive methods have to be developed. Accordingly, the following research topics are involved:
- long-pulse or continuous operation (advanced tokamak or stellarator)
- operation with high-density plasmas
- plasma-wall interface: power exhaust, plasma-wall interaction
- plasma diagnostics and plasma control
- heating and current drive
- materials for structural and functional components
- in-vessel components: divertor, blanket, cooling
- fuel cycle: tritium and vacuum technology
- superconductor technology
- remote handling and maintenance technique
- efficiency, reliability and availability of all systems
IPP at Garching and Greifswald are working to solve many of these questions.
This is being done both experimentally – with the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak and with the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator as well as with experiments on plasma-wall interaction or plasma heating – and also by means of simulations and calculations in plasma theory.
The German DEMO Working Group integrates the expertness of all German fusion laboratories.