Over the course of the past 15 months members of the EUROfusion DEMO Central Team, supported by a number of experts in the EU labs, have been engaged in carrying out a feasibility study for a 14 MeV-based Volumetric Neutron Source (VNS) device. This activity, led by Gianfranco Federici, Head of the ITER Technology and DEMO Preparation Department (ITD), was initiated by the EUROfusion General Assembly in July 2023 following the EUROfusion Breeding Blanket Working Group recommendation.
On the 17th September 2024, the initial output of this study was presented for review to the EUROfusion Scientific & Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), marking the culmination of the intensive study.
Along with the STAC members and the EUROfusion DEMO Central Team participants, the full day hybrid meeting was also attended by observers from the European Commission, Fusion for Energy, ITER, together with the EUROfusion Programme Manager and Chair of the DEMO Project Board.
The agenda covered all key aspects of the scope of activities including concept definition, VNS plant and systems design and technical options explored, testing strategies, physics basis and possible operating scenarios, engineering cost and schedule and feasibility considerations including outstanding considerations. Given the wealth of information to disseminate and review, preparatory work began with the STAC in July to familiarize the committee with the activities and documentation that will form the main output of the study. This output was summarized in presentation format during the review allowing for concise discussion of the key aspects.
This is the first in a series of steps over the next three months, including an iterative process between the STAC and VNS team to address comments, and eventually leading to the delivery and presentation of the final feasibility study results and STAC findings to the General Assembly in December 2024. These findings and recommendations will form the basis for the General Assembly’s decision on whether to proceed with VNS activities and the possible inclusion of the device in the European roadmap strategy.
Regardless of this decision, the VNS team were commended by both the Chair of the STAC and EUROfusion Programme Manager on the impressive work and output of the feasibility study that was presented during the review and achieved over the compact timeframe.