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Frontiers of Fusion and Fusion Technology - PHY00046M

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  • Department: Physics
  • Module co-ordinator: Prof. Nigel Woolsey
  • Credit value: 20 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2024-25
    • See module specification for other years: 2023-24

Module summary

In the fusion technology component we give students an overview of the complex science and technology issues associated with future fusion reactors and their relationship to the underlying physics. This part of the course is designed to connect to associated plasma physics based courses on magnetic and inertial confinement fusion, by describing the major science and engineering problems that need to be overcome for fusion to become a viable source of electricity production. Fusion technology lectures are presented over one week to enable intensive concentration on relevant physics and technology issues and to enable guest lecturers from fusion laboratories to present material.

The Frontiers of Fusion workshop aims to give students exposure to front-line physics research and technology in fusion and to improve their communication skills by attendance at an intensive week-long workshop. Students attend plenary lectures by UK and overseas experts working in the fusion area.

Related modules

Pre-requisite modules

Co-requisite modules

Prohibited combinations

  • None

Additional information

 Additional pre-requisite: Computational Plasma Physics (no module code yet)

 

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Semester 2 2024-25

Module aims

In the fusion technology component we give students an overview of the complex science and technology issues associated with future fusion reactors and their relationship to the underlying physics. This part of the course is designed to connect to associated plasma physics based courses on magnetic and inertial confinement fusion, by describing the major science and engineering problems that need to be overcome for fusion to become a viable source of electricity production. Fusion technology lectures are presented over one week to enable intensive concentration on relevant physics and technology issues and to enable guest lecturers from fusion laboratories to present material.

The Frontiers of Fusion workshop aims to give students exposure to front-line physics research and technology in fusion and to improve their communication skills by attendance at an intensive week-long workshop. Students attend plenary lectures by UK and overseas experts working in the fusion area.

Module learning outcomes

  • Describe the main components in fusion reactor designs, including tritium blankets and technologies associated with plasma heating and confinement

  • Understand the principal technological and economic problems that need to be addressed in order to realise the potential of fusion power as a source of electricity production

  • Use provided basic software analysis tools to model neutron transport in a fusion reactor, particularly the blanket (tritium breeding as well as deposition of the fusion neutron heat)

  • Develop a range of skills related to the retrieval and critical evaluation of relevant information

  • Develop the necessary skills to relay information to a broad range of audiences.

  • understand cutting edge research in the context of fusion and plasma physics, especially the multidisciplinary nature of this research

Module content

Fusion Technology

Overview of Fusion reactor design: Plasma conditions for fusion burn or ignition. Economic and environmental consequences of fusion materials and system design choices.

First wall, plasma facing & structural materials: Neutron damage of materials. Introduction to neutronics and neutron transport calculations.

Divertor high heat-flux and erosion handling issues and relationship to plasma and atomic physics. We will also cover the importance of tritium retention, tritium handling and safety issues.

Specialist fusion technology systems: Heating and current drive engineering. Neutral beam systems. Wave heating and current drive systems.

Lasers and heavy ion beam drivers for ICF systems. Targets, injection and tracking systems for ICF.

The ITER device and DEMO reactor.

Frontiers of fusion

A range of cutting edge talks on fusion and plasma relevant topics changing each year designed to inform students of the current state of the art

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Frontiers Essay and Lay Summary		 N/A 50
Essay/coursework
Fusion Tech Essay		 N/A 20
Essay/coursework
Fusion Tech assignments		 N/A 30

Special assessment rules

None

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Frontiers Essay and Lay Summary		 N/A 50
Essay/coursework
Fusion Tech Essay		 N/A 20

Module feedback

'Feedback’ at a university level can be understood as any part of the learning process which is designed to guide your progress through your degree programme. We aim to help you reflect on your own learning and help you feel more clear about your progress through clarifying what is expected of you in both formative and summative assessments.

A comprehensive guide to feedback and to forms of feedback is available in the Guide to Assessment Standards, Marking and Feedback. This can be found at:

https://www.york.ac.uk/students/studying/assessment-and-examination/guide-to-assessment/

The School of Physics, Engineering & Technology aims to provide some form of feedback on all formative and summative assessments that are carried out during the degree programme. In general, feedback on any written work/assignments undertaken will be sufficient so as to indicate the nature of the changes needed in order to improve the work. Students are provided with their examination results within 25 working days of the end of any given examination period. The School will also endeavour to return all coursework feedback within 25 working days of the submission deadline. The School would normally expect to adhere to the times given, however, it is possible that exceptional circumstances may delay feedback. The School will endeavour to keep such delays to a minimum. Please note that any marks released are subject to ratification by the Board of Examiners and Senate. Meetings at the start/end of each semester provide you with an opportunity to discuss and reflect with your supervisor on your overall performance to date.

Our policy on how you receive feedback for formative and summative purposes is contained in our Physics at York Taught Student Handbook a supplement to the MSc Fusion Energy Handbook.

Indicative reading

Principles of Fusion Energy by A.A. Harms et al

This module is around cutting edge technology so most information gathered from research papers


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.