Fusion Pilot Plant performance and the role of a sustained high power density tokamak

Recent U.S. fusion development strategy reports all recommend that the U.S. should pursue innovative science and technology to enable construction of a Fusion Pilot Plant (FPP) that produces net electricity from fusion at low capital cost. Compact tokamaks have been proposed as a means of potentially reducing the capital cost of a fusion pilot plant. However, compact steady-state tokamak FPPs face the challenge of integrating a high fraction of self-driven current with high core confinement, plasma pressure, and high divertor parallel heat flux. This integration is sufficiently challenging that a dedicated sustained-high-power-density (SHPD) tokamak facility is proposed by the U.S. community as the optimal way to close this integration gap. Performance projections for the steady-state tokamak FPP regime are presented and a preliminary SHPD device with substantial flexibility in lower aspect ratio (A=2-2.5), shaping, and divertor configuration to narrow gaps to a FPP is described.

Capability of Multi-Material Laser-Based Powder Bed Fusion—Development and Analysis of a Prototype Large Bore Engine Component

Additive Manufacturing (AM) allows the manufacturing of functionally graded materials (FGM). This includes compositional grading, which enables the allocation of desired materials corresponding to local product requirements. An upcoming AM process for the creation of metal-based FGMs is laser-based powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M) utilized for multi-material manufacturing (MM). Three-dimensional multi-material approaches for PBF-LB/M are stated to have a manufacturing readiness level (MRL) of 4 to 5. In this paper, an advancement of multi-material technology is presented by realizing an industry-relevant complex part as a prototype made by PBF-LB/M. Hence, a multi-material injection nozzle consisting of tool steel and a copper alloy was manufactured in a continuous PBF-LB/M process. Single material regions showed qualities similar to the ones resulting from mono-material processes. A geometrically defined transition zone between the two materials was achieved that showed slightly higher porosity than mono-material regions. Nevertheless, defects such as porosity, cracks, and material cross-contamination were detected and must be overcome in further MM technology development.

Research on the Fusion Mechanism of Innovation Chain and Fund Chain in Strategic Emerging Industries

In order to achieve the fusion of innovation chain and fund chain in strategic emerging industries, improve industrial innovation performance, and realize capital appreciation, based on the connotation and structural characteristics of the two chains, this research analyzes and summarizes the fusion mechanism from three aspects, including the elements, the process of fusion as well as the law of evolution. After research, it is found that the fusion of the innovation chain and fund chain is to integrate on the basis of synergy, then, deepen the synergy and form a spiral system. Lastly, from the point of view of fusion elements, a strategy which can promote the incorporation of the two chains is proposed. This research can be regarded as a reference for the fusion development of the innovation chain and fund chain in strategic emerging industries.