IEEE Eastern Idaho Section Meeting

Date: 11 August 2006

Location: JB’s Restaurant, 850 Lindsay, Idaho Falls Idaho at noon

Presenter: Phil Sharpe, INL Fusion Safety Program

Presentation Title: “ITER: Realizing Nuclear Fusion Power”

Abstract:

For the first time in the history of mankind, an opportunity exists to explore the realities of operating a fusion reactor - construction of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) is set to begin in the near future. ITER will be the first experiment to sustain a burning plasma with a net energy output at least 10 times greater than energy input, and produce thermal energy at the level of present electric power stations. Many science and engineering challenges are to be met with the robust design of ITER. Integration of novel and complex systems and substantial sources of stored energy within ITER have required extensive safety analyses to ensure negligible impact to the public. This presentation will provide an overview of ITER, discuss a few of the technical challenges to be met, and demonstrate the important role of fusion safety research and analysis.

Biography:

Phil Sharpe (PhD Nuclear Eng, North Carolina State University, 2000) is a scientist in the Fusion Safety Program at the Idaho National Laboratory. His research interests include fusion energy system design and safety analysis, power systems technology, terrestrial and astrophysical plasma science, plasma applications, and aerosol science and technology. Current research activities include studying the impact of dust on the operational and safety characteristics of fusion reactors, plasma-surface interactions, experimental simulation of solar plasma and magnetosphere interaction dynamics, materials studies with hydrogen isotopes, tritium handling and cleanup systems, and thermochemical behavior of liquid coolants (molten salts and liquid metals).