August 8, 2024
Matter injection technology that has been qualified for continuous, long–term operation will be a critical enabling technology for power-producing fusion pilot plant (FPP) devices. An FPP must be capable of running continuously for a year or more without maintenance to compete with existing power plant technologies. That level of continuous operation necessitates over 1,000 times greater reliability than existing fusion devices, which typically pulse for less than an hour. Matter injection encompasses both continuous high-speed injection of small, cryogenically frozen fuel pellets, and for tokamak-based FPP’s, single-shot injection of large pellets for rapid emergency shutdown of the fusion plasma. This project will address two aspects of the fusion matter injection problem. First, from the standpoint of technology development, it will address key issues in the design of an FPP-class fueling centrifuge, which holds promise as a highly desirable steady-state matter injection technology. Second, from the standpoint of industrialization, it will develop the design for an industrial–scale fusion matter injection manufacturing and qualification center. This project links leading United States national laboratory expertise with private industry to develop and industrialize fusion matter injection technology so that it will not constrain future FPP development.