| Abstract Scope |
Type One Energy Group recently provided a comprehensive physics basis for a stellarator based fusion pilot power plant known as Infinity Two, demonstrating a major achievement in the effort to advance fusion energy based on the stellarator confinement concept. With the physics validated, increased emphasis is being placed on comprehensive engineering activities aimed at enabling the deployment of the fusion energy system. Of specific focus are the challenges associated with in-vessel components such as the breeder blanket and divertor, which will be subjected to, and must survive, immensely harsh conditions. This includes a combination of extreme radiation, high heat fluxes, large mechanical stresses, and potentially volatile chemical environments. Developing materials for fusion represents one of the ultimate challenges in materials science and engineering, and they are expected to dictate the economic, safety, and environmental attractiveness of any given fusion system. At present the behavior and reliability of materials subjected to this environment have relatively high uncertainty, and this uncertainty impacts design choices and drives research and development (R&D) needs. In this presentation Type One Energy will discuss how we integrate decades of materials research with a validated physics basis design to evaluate in-vessel materials selection and develop an R&D path towards Infinity Two. |