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FPN10-26

Small Ignition Stellarator Proposed

May 5, 2010

"To raise interest in fusion energy," a new concept for a low-cost stellarator, called the Allure Ignition Stellarator (AIS), has been developed by scientists in Spain. The essence of the concept is a two-period stellarator located on a vertical plane to ease maintenance operations. A double-hull toroidal vessel arrangement allows the flow of a liquid Li compound that provides heat extraction and serves as a plasma-facing material or first wall (FW). The strategy is to aim for a small device working at high density and extremely high field. Stellarators are particularly suited for this strategy if the Sudo limit applies under the proposed conditions. Ignition in a small device (not bigger than a car) seems feasible, say the advocates.

Certain innovations and rules need to be followed to achieve low cost. The advocates say the high reaction rate, DD ignition-like pulses, and then DT ignition in the same small stellarator core can be performed in phases as interest rises. "Stimulation of nuclear fusion commercial technology requires generation of private industrial sector interest in fusion energy. Similar to a snowball effect, if a reasonably low investment translates into a high-reaction-rate device or ignition, then exponential growth of interest in fusion energy would likely occur. Seeking such a phenomenon should be pursued despite some risk of failure," say the advocates.

The main objective of the present development is to maximize the interest generated in the industrial and political communities for a given investment. The Allure Ignition Stellarator (AIS) is a small, high-field, high-density, two period modular stellarator located on a vertical plane, which could be attractive to the industry because of its ease of maintenance, small size, simplicity, and resemblance to present nuclear fission reactors.

For more information, contact:

Vicente M. Queral, J.A. Romero, J.A. Ferreira
Laboratorio Nacional de Fusión,
CIEMAT*, Spain
E-mail: vicentemanuel.queral@ciemat.es
or see the article in Stellarator News at http://www.ornl.gov/sci/fed/stelnews/pdf/sn125.pdf