Fusion Energy Harnessing, Reactor Technology, and Sustainability

Abstract

The energy produced from the controlled thermonuclear fusion of hydrogen isotopes can replace fossil fuels and become a sustainable energy source. The fusion of deuterium and tritium has been achieved in several experimental reactors where the plasmas are confined with magnetic fields and there is high optimism that this will also be achieved with laser and ion beams. The plasma confinements and reactor technologies of tokamaks and stellarators are paving the way for building demonstration fusion reactors and subsequently commercial fusion power plants. Following a review of the magnetic and inertial plasma confinement concepts, the reactor technologies that implement these concepts are assessed for producing sustained plasma ignition, external plasma heating, control of plasma instabilities, developments of low‐activation and high strength materials, coolants for removing fusion energy from the reactor, and breeding tritium in the blanket of the reactor for achieving fuel self‐sufficiency. Sustainability of fusion energy requires the long‐term availability of fusion fuels and reactor components materials, social acceptability, minimization of waste products, and safe operation of fusion power plants. These and other issues considered strongly suggest that the fusion energy will become a viable energy source for human development.