Reducing Risk and Accelerating Delivery of a Neutron Source for Fusion Materials Research

TL;DR

This paper proposes the FAFNIR neutron source as a safer, cost-effective alternative to IFMIF for fusion materials research, enabling faster data collection with reduced risk.

Contribution

It introduces FAFNIR as a novel neutron source design that lowers risk and accelerates data generation for fusion materials testing.

Findings

FAFNIR reduces risk compared to IFMIF.

It enables faster data collection for fusion materials.

Lower-cost, lower-risk neutron source design.

Abstract

The materials engineering data base relevant to fusion irradiation is poorly populated and it has long been recognized that a fusion spectrum neutron source will be required, the facility IFMIF being the present proposal. Re- evaluation of the regulatory approach for the EU proposed DEMO device shows that the purpose of the source can be changed from lifetime equivalent irradiation exposure to data generation at lower levels of exposure by adopting a defence in depth strategy and regular component surveillance. This reduces the specification of the source with respect to IFMIF allowing lower risk technology solutions to be considered. A description of such a source, the Facility for Fusion Neutron Irradiation Research, FAFNIR, is presented here along with project timescales and costs.