21 Aug (NucNet): The European Commission said on 14 August 2009 that Romanian scientists have developed a new technology for reinforcing the wall of a fusion reactor to resist hot plasma.
The Commission said the development* marked an important step forward for the success of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project.
“The ‘Combined Magneton Sputtering and Ion Implantation’ Technology (CMSII) developed by the Romanian Fusion Association, which is a member of the Euratom Fusion Research Programme, has been chosen as the best ‘coating technique’ in terms of resistance to the high heat loads,” the Commission said.
ITER will be the world’s largest experimental facility to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion power. The construction costs have been estimated at five billion euro over 10 years.
The ITER council said in June 2009 that primary components for ITER would be assembled and tested together before the progressive installation of in-vessel components continues at the construction site in Cadarache, southern France.
*Details are available in the press centre section of the European Commission’s research website (http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm?pg=press&lg=en).
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
IAEA And ITER Sign Fusion Cooperation Agreement (News in Brief No. 122, 13 October 2008)
ITER Project Moves Ahead With More Contracts (News in Brief No. 78, 22 June 2009)
