Developing Structural, High-heat flux and Plasma Facing Materials for a near-term DEMO Fusion Power Plant: the EU Assessment

TL;DR

This paper reviews the EU's assessment of materials for a near-term DEMO fusion power plant, focusing on their readiness, development strategies, and risk mitigation to ensure operational safety and efficiency.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of the technological status and R&D strategies for structural and plasma-facing materials for DEMO, integrating systems engineering and risk analysis.

Findings

Assessment of material readiness for DEMO

Proposed R&D strategies and testing programs

Identification of key material development risks

Abstract

The findings of the EU 'Materials Assessment Group' (MAG), within the 2012 EU Fusion Roadmap exercise, are discussed. MAG analysed the technological readiness of structural, plasma facing and high heat flux materials for a DEMO concept to be constructed in the early 2030s, proposing a coherent strategy for R&D up to a DEMO construction decision. Technical consequences for the materials required and the development, testing and modelling programmes, are analysed using: a systems engineering approach, considering reactor operational cycles, efficient maintenance and inspection requirements, and interaction with functional materials/coolants; and a project-based risk analysis, with R&D to mitigate risks from material shortcomings including development of specific risk mitigation materials.