Comment on ‘Relationship between magnetic field and tokamak size—a system engineering perspective and implications to fusion development’

Abstract

The recent Federici et al (2024 Nucl. Fusion 64 036025) article makes the argument that higher magnetic fields cannot reduce the size and cost of a tokamak-based fusion power plant due to: structural considerations of the toroidal field (TF) coils, the required thickness for neutron shielding and the blanket, and challenges with heat exhaust in the divertor. This conclusion is based on a series of assumptions that are design decisions made by the authors, not fundamental limits on physics or engineering. This Comment demonstrates that the conclusions of Federici et al are invalid if one makes different design choices and that its results are therefore not broadly generalizable.

Keywords

• tokamak
• fusion power plant
• toroidal field coil