Dresden 2009 – scientific programme

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VA: Fachverband Vakuumphysik und Vakuumtechnik

VA 1: ITER - The new international fusion reactor

VA 1.1: Invited Talk

Monday, March 23, 2009, 10:30–11:10, HSZ 101

ITER, the next step to clean energy by fusion - Size matters — •Christian Day — Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Institut für Technische Physik, Postfach 3640, 76021 Karlsruhe

Fusion is the energy source of our sun which keeps our earth alive. Fusion research is aimed at using this energy source with abundant fuel resources to produce electricity in a safe, environmentally benign way without CO2-emission, to meet the needs of a growing world population.

ITER is a joint research and development project that aims to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of thermonuclear fusion power. With seven parties participating in the project (European Union, Japan, China, Korea, the Russian Federation, India, and the USA), ITER constitutes one of the largest international scientific projects of its kind and brings together countries representing over one-half of the world's population. ITER will be built at Cadarache in the South of France.

The ITER mission is the next large step to develop nuclear fusion from the plasma physics level towards a technology with the potential and technical availability to act as future energy source. Hence, engineering is the core element of the ITER project. ITER will generate some 500 MW of fusion power, with a tenfold energy output/input ratio under conditions similar to those expected in an electricity-generating fusion power plant. The talk will present the ITER project, address major technical challenges and outline the impressive ITER vacuum systems.