Fusion Energy Research Situation and Prospect

Abstract

It is expected that fusion energy development, which is at a critical stage of breaking through energy break-even in the engineering sense, has the potential to reshape the future pattern of energy development with both opportunities and challenges. This study reviews the main progress of fusion energy research and summarizes the major challenges regarding energy balance, tritium selfsustainability, high availability, development of irradiation-resistant materials, and economical efficiency in general sense. On the basis of sorting out the common basic technology breakthroughs of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) program and the supporting research activities of its member states, the study summarizes the progress of China’s magnetic confinement fusion research in terms of overall planning, self-developed projects, and technical tracking. Furthermore, focusing on the Z-pinch-driven fusion-fission hybrid reactor (Z-FFR) concept, which is independently proposed by China, this study elaborates on the basic principles, application advantages, and series of progresses, and proposes a development plan toward commercial energy supply by 2040, covering the task objectives in the stages of key technology campaign, engineering demonstration, and promotion of commercial power generation. To comprehensively promote China’s fusion energy development, several suggestions are given. In the magnetic confinement fusion area, it is suggest that China deeply participate in the ITER program and relevant international cooperation, overcome key physics and engineering technologies of commercial fusion reactors, promote the research and development of key components of China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFETR) device, and construct and operate CFETR in due course. In the Z-FFR area, it is of first priority to start the construction of electromagnetic-driven large-scale scientific devices the soonest possible, develop key technologies for fusion energy, and promote both engineering demonstrations and commercial projects in proper time.

Keywords

• fusion energy
• magnetic confinement fusion
• China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor
• Z-pinch-driven fusion-fission hybrid reactor
• commercial energy supply