Accelerating the development of tokamak shielding materials

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Tokamak Energy Research Contract
$636,000
PA Burr, EG Obbard
2021–2024

Recent developments in spherical tokamaks have shown that smaller magnetically-confined fusion reactors are a promising avenue for the rapid development and commercialization of fusion energy. However, a significant barrier to the success of spherical tokamaks is the limited space available for shielding of sensitive components, such as superconducting magnets, from the high energy radiation produced inside the plasma. Conventional shielding materials (lead, steel, concrete) provide inadequate shielding, leading to excessive heating and radiation damage of the superconducting coils, which in turn reduces component lifetime, plasma efficiency, and increases maintenance costs.

Recently, new candidate tungsten boride ceramics and ceramic-metal composites have been identified as potential advanced shielding materials. While these materials have exceptional thermo-mechanical properties, their response to the extreme environment of a fusion reactor is yet unknown. The aim of this project is to develop an understanding of the radiation damage in these advanced shielding materials when exposed to fusion radiation, and the effect that these will have on the materials’ properties.

Advanced electrochemical capacitors

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Australian Research Council
Discovery Project DP170103219
$270,000
A Lennon, Z Ouyang, PA Burr
2017–2020

PROJECT SUMMARY

Electrical power systems are needed to supply both the peak power and energy demand required by users and their equipment, particularly those users who do not have access to grid electricity. This project aims to develop a new electrochemical capacitor design methodology that can enable the fabrication of compact electrochemical power systems having a designed energy/power balance for equipment that can harvest renewable energy sources, such as sunlight. It will contribute to an improved understanding of the requirements for both high power and energy density in electrochemical capacitors and facilitate improved power quality in off-grid electrical power supplies and more effective integration of renewable energy.

IMPACT STATEMENT

Charging of electrochemical capacitors from renewable energy sources can provide self-sustaining power for equipment if the capacitor electrochemistry can be matched to the power attributes of the load and the charging source. Novel electrode designs will be used to tune the energy density of the capacitors, making them more efficiently charged and able to supply both peak power and energy demand for improved off-grid power supplies and integration of renewable energy into electricity grids.

Atomic simulations of radiation effects on re-distribnution of alloying elements in Zr metal, oxide and suboxide

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Westinghouse Electric Sweden AB Industry sponsorship
$66,000
PA Burr
2018–2021

PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES

Use state-of-the-art DFT simulations to investigate

• The effect of radiation damage on the mobility of alloying elements in Zr, Zr(O), ZrO and ZrO2.

• The effect of irradiation on the stability of second phase particles in Zr metal and Zr oxide.

• Extract electronic DOS from the results of points A and B to support the development of tight binding models carried out by colleagues within the MUZIC-3 program.