Fusion Power Plant Systems Codes
We explore the conceptual design and feasibility of a possible fusion power plant.
Systems codes
When studying a hypothetical fusion power plant, questions of the following type arise:
- Are the machine’s physics and engineering parameters consistent with one another?
- Which machine of a given size and shape produces the cheapest electricity?
- What is the effect of a more optimistic limit on the maximum plasma density on the amount of auxiliary power required?
Questions such as these are difficult to answer, since the large number of parameters involved are highly dependent on one another. Computer programs to address these issues are known as systems codes. CCFE has developed a systems code called “PROCESS”. The scope of PROCESS is very wide and goes well beyond reactor physics, including the heat transfer and energy conversion system, buildings etc.
PROCESS finds a set of parameters that optimise a Figure of Merit chosen by the user (such as cost of electricity or ratio of fusion power to input power), while being consistent with the inputs and the specified constraints.
PROCESS is being used in the EUROfusion DEMO programme and the UK STEP programme.
If you would like collaborate by using PROCESS, or by contributing new or improved algorithms, please contact James Morris.
PROCESS papers
- “PROCESS”: a systems code for fusion power plants – Part 1: Physics
- “PROCESS”: a systems code for fusion power plants – Part 2: Engineering
And other publications citing these two papers.
Open access code repository
Help and advice
For technical assistance please email James Morris or IT Support.
