Tritium and the Fusion Fuel Cycle

PHYS65430 Tritium and the Fusion Fuel Cycle 15 Full year Postgraduate Taught Level 6 Philip Edmondson Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Masters/Integrated Masters P4 ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 7.5 This course unit provides an introduction to nuclear fusion, and a detailed overview of the tritium science and technology that underpins successful operation of a future fusion power plant. It is specifically designed to provide an understanding of the fundamentals of the tritium fuel cycle as it pertains to the burgeoning field of fusion power plants. The unit consists of a brief overview (approximately 1 day) of the basics of nuclear fusion and fusion reactors, along with more details lectures covering key topics including fuel storage and supply, isotope separations (D, T, and He), tritium removal from water and waste forms, and personal and environmental protection. Included in the lecture series will be a guest lecturer from the UKAEA’s H3AT centre – a world-leading tritium science and technology facility. A small hands-on experimental component (1 day) will also provide valuable experience. A post-course tritium science and technology assessment designed to consolidate knowledge gained during the course and enable students to join industry with a solid understanding of key tritium science and technology issues and processes. This course unit provides an introduction to nuclear fusion, and a detailed overview of the tritium science and technology that underpins successful operation of a future fusion power plant. It is specifically designed to provide an understanding of the fundamentals of the tritium fuel cycle as it pertains to the burgeoning field of fusion power plants. The unit consists of a brief overview (approximately 1 day) of the basics of nuclear fusion and fusion reactors, along with more details lectures covering key topics including fuel storage and supply, isotope separations (D, T, and He), tritium removal from water and waste forms, and personal and environmental protection. Included in the lecture series will be a guest lecturer from the UKAEA’s H3AT centre – a world-leading tritium science and technology facility. A small hands-on experimental component (1 day) will also provide valuable experience. A post-course tritium science and technology assessment designed to consolidate knowledge gained during the course and enable students to join industry with a solid understanding of key tritium science and technology issues and processes. The unit aims to:Provide students with the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to support the development of the fusion fuel cycle, with a particular focus on tritium and associated issues.  ILO 1Describe and discuss the purpose and requirements of a nuclear fusion power reactor, giving examples of key sub-systems and the explain the fundamentals of the fusion reaction.ILO 2Compare and contrast breeder blanket options for fusion reactors, analysing the benefits and drawbacks for each type.ILO 3Interpret and explain the purpose of the fusion fuel cycle, and how fuel can be stored.ILO 4Identify the thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of isotope separations; compare and contrast isotope separation techniques.ILO 5Describe the mechanisms of H isotope recovery from liquid and solid materials, and summarise how this may be used in detritiation of plant materials.  ILO 6Explain and summarise methods and mechanisms to provide fuel cycle safety protection to personnel and the environment.  ILO 7Write a coherent logically-argued technical report on a sub-system of the fusion fuel cycle, identifying the strengths and weaknesses. Students are taught via directed reading (pre-course) and directly in appropriately equipped rooms at the institution delivering the module. Learning is consolidated in tutorial and review sessions.<ul><li>Pre-course directed reading                            </li><li>Direct Teaching</li><li>Review sessions</li><li>Tutorial sessions   </li></ul> Students are able to exercise their intellectual skills through in-class discussion, tutorial sessions, and the completion of the assigned post-module criticality safety assessment.   <ul><li>In-class discussion</li><li>Review sessions</li><li>Tutorial sessions</li><li>Assignment exercise</li><li>Multiple choice questions</li><li>Post-course assignment </li></ul> Students are able to exercise their practical skills through tutorial sessions and completion of the assigned post-module criticality safety assessment. <ul><li>Tutorial sessions</li><li>Post-course assignment</li></ul> Students are able to enhance their transferable skills through in-class discussion, tutorial sessions, and the completion of the assigned post-module criticality safety assessment. <ul><li>In-class discussion</li><li>Tutorial sessions</li><li>Assignment exercise</li><li>Post-course assignment</li></ul> A. Knowledge and Understanding  Students are taught via directed reading (pre-course) and directly in appropriately equipped rooms at the institution delivering the module. Learning is consolidated in tutorial and review sessions. Pre-course directed reading                            Direct TeachingReview sessionsTutorial sessions B. Intellectual SkillsStudents are able to exercise their intellectual skills through in-class discussion, tutorial sessions, and the completion of the assigned post-module criticality safety assessment. In-class discussionReview sessionsTutorial sessionsAssignment exerciseMultiple choice questionsPost-course assignment C. Practical SkillsStudents are able to exercise their practical skills through tutorial sessions and completion of the assigned post-module criticality safety assessment. Tutorial sessionsPost-course assignment D. Transferable Skills and Personal QualitiesStudents are able to enhance their transferable skills through in-class discussion, tutorial sessions, and the completion of the assigned post-module criticality safety assessment. In-class discussionTutorial sessionsAssignment exercisePost-course assignment  0 Other 80% 9 Set exercise 20% Review sessions - 0%Time is allocated in the timetable to review course material in class, to let students integrate the knowledge gained.Tutorial sessions - 0%In-class tutorials covering tritium science and technologyPractical Experiment Assessment - 0%Students will work together on an experiment directly related to tritium science and technology, including coverage of safety aspects. Multiple choice questions - 0%Online multiple choice questions covering the range of material in the unitIn-course test - 20%An in-class test designed to complement the post-module assessment by covering the breadth of material in the course to ensure that students have engaged with the full range of the material. This will take the form of a written test carried out at the end of the taught part of the module. Post-module assessment - 80%A set of questions covering various areas of tritium science and technology - 20%andA comprehensive report covering a sub-topic taught during lectures, and a description of how this pertains to future fusion power plants - 60% Comments on work submitted via Canvas N Tritium Technologies for Thermonuclear Fusion Reactors, Perevezentsev, A & Rozenkevich, M. Elsevier (2021) Magnetic Fusion Technology, Ed: Dolan, T J. Springer (2013)  Tutorials 35 0 115