Setting JET on Track

Prof. D.Palumbo “Setting JET on track” 25th JET Anniversary 20 May 2004

Setting JET on Track

Prof. Donato PalumboHonorary General Director Research EURATOM

25th JET Anniversary, Culham 20th May 2004


Fusion Reaction: D + T 4He + n

DT

n, 14.1 MeV4He, 3.5 MeV

• Alpha particle :

20 % of reaction energy

==> CONFINED

==> PLASMA SELF HEATING

• Neutron :

80 % of reaction energy

==> NOT CONFINED

==> ENERGY OUTPUT and

TRITIUM PRODUCTION


Fusion Reactors

• Building a fusion reactor is a very challenging task

• Simple criterion found by Lawson (1955) :

n > 1020 cm-3s

• Instabilities reducing

• Nevertheless n now up to 6 1019 cm-3s

MAJOR ROLE PLAYED BY JET


1958 - InternationalSeptember 1958 “Atoms for Peace” (IAEA, Geneva)

Plasma physics is very difficult.Worldwide collaboration needed

for progress

Fusion technology is very complex. It is almost impossible to build a

fusion reactor in this century

L.A.Artsimovich E.Teller


How to organizecollaboration ?

Solution( Palumbo +Waelbroeck ):

Fusion Associations

First one : CEAFontenay-aux-Roses

Europe: from 1958...


…to 1986


First years of EU Fusion Research Programme

• Various magnetic configurations under study : Mirrors, Z and -pinches, stellarators

• Development of Plasma Heating methods

• Development of Plasma Diagnostics

MODEST PROGRESS

1958-1968


1968 - A turning point for fusion physicsEmergence of the Tokamak

IAEA Novosibirsk(August 1968)

T3 reaches 1 keV

Confirmed by 1969 Culham mission to

Moscow


– before 1968: very little money for fusion in EURATOM– EURATOM faced risks of severe budget cuts because

the Organic Liquid Heavy Water Reactor project terminates without success

– positive results from T3 inspired a bold attempt: propose a robust fusion programme within EURATOM

– Reorientation of fusion programme (Groupe de Liaison ‘69 led by Braams):

There is a need for Several small tokamaks One BIG tokamak

1968 - A turning point for fusion physicsTOKAMAK appears


Council is positive about a robust fusion programme

FUSION TAKE-OFF IN EARLY 70’s

“… a long-term co-operative project embracing all work carried out in the Member States in the field of controlled thermonuclear fusion. It is designed to lead in due course to the joint construction of prototypes with a view to their industrial production and marketing.”

The Council’s Decision dated June 21, 1971 provides MORE MONEY FOR FUSION THAN REQUESTED

(46.5 MUC instead of 45 MUC for 1971-1975)and, even more importantly, it defines the scope:

– Switzerland and Sweden joined EURATOM – Several tokamaks : TFR very succesful (designed by Rebut)


• 1972 : Luc-Enriques JET working group

– Define requirements for a largetokamak reaching reactor conditions

• 1973 : – May : recommendation

3MA tokamak needed– June : Design group in Culham

Leader is P.H.Rebut Supervisory board led by R.Toschi.

– September : Start of design team in Culham

– November : First preliminary report

• 1975 : Final JET report - Famous R5

1972-1975 The scientific birth of JET

ONLY 3 YEARS FROM CONCEPT TO DESIGN


From the most difficult to the simpliest:1977 Setting JET on Track

Site ? Legal Status ? Cost ?

• Siting problem solved :Council of Ministers 25 Oct ‘77 (led by Simonet from

Belgium) Decision helped by Terrorist raid on Entebbe

• Legal Status :Joint Undertaking, adopted by the Council just a week

earlier

• Cost is shared : 80% Commission, 10% Host country, 10% Associations

10 Sessions of Council of Ministers to solve JET site discussion

1975-1977 Years of indecisiveness


• 18th May 1979: the foundation stonelaid by Dr G Brunner in Culham

• the duo H.O.Wüster and P.H.Rebut JET built on schedule and in budget

• 25th June 1983 : first plasmain October JET is the first tokamak in the world reaching 1MA, and makes 3MA by the end of the year– before TFTR(USA) and JT-60

(Japan)

• 19th April 1984 : Official openingby H.R.M. Queen Elizabeth II

1977-1983Building JET and Reaching the First 1MA plasmas in JET


• fusion programme has been managed by scientists

• freedom for the management is of prior importance

• Position of JET in EFP has been mutually beneficial

• Quality of Scientific Leader and of staff is essential

• JET has been universally judged as a big step

Conclusive remarks


For a fast development of fusion power :– A parallel a substantial technology program – Reduce delays as much as possible– Political support– Main responsibility on physicists and engineers

DO IT WELL AND FAST

JET and ITER•2004

– fusion is a HOPE– energy problems becoming critical

• 1958– fusion was a DREAM– energy problems important

ITER –facing similar problems as met by JET–Hope for a solution soon–Only one machine : no room for mistakes !

Documents

Setting JET on Track