Analysis of Power Conversion System Options for ARC-like Tokamak Fusion Reactor Balance of Plant

Francesco Colliva (), Cristiano Ciurluini, Andrea Iaboni, Giulia Valeria Centomani, Antonio Trotta and Fabio Giannetti ()
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Francesco Colliva: DIAEE—Nuclear Engineering Research Group (NERG), Sapienza University of Rome, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 244, 00186 Rome, Italy
Cristiano Ciurluini: DIAEE—Nuclear Engineering Research Group (NERG), Sapienza University of Rome, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 244, 00186 Rome, Italy
Andrea Iaboni: MAFE, Eni S.p.A., 30175 Venezia, Italy
Giulia Valeria Centomani: MAFE, Eni S.p.A., 30175 Venezia, Italy
Antonio Trotta: MAFE, Eni S.p.A., 30175 Venezia, Italy
Fabio Giannetti: DIAEE—Nuclear Engineering Research Group (NERG), Sapienza University of Rome, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II 244, 00186 Rome, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 17, 1-18

Abstract: In recent years, fusion energy has assumed an important role in the energy scenario, being a sustainable, environmentally friendly, and practically inexhaustible energy source. Fusion energy could play a crucial role in fully decarbonized electricity production in the second half of this century, helping to meet the increasing energy demand. One of the studied reactors is ARC, a tokamak fusion device characterized by a compact and high-field design initially conceived by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, which the Commonwealth Fusion System (CFS) plans to construct in the next decade. This paper is focused on the analysis and development of different configurations for the ARC Balance of Plant Power Conversion System, with the aim of improving the thermodynamic efficiency, which is one of the pillars of sustainability. Three cycles were studied by using the General Electric GateCycle TM software: a supercritical steam Rankine cycle, a supercritical CO 2 Brayton cycle, and a supercritical helium Brayton cycle. The thermal efficiency of the three options was compared to select the most promising solution. The results showed that the supercritical steam cycle is the best configuration in terms of cycle efficiency for the ARC FNSF Pilot phase.

Keywords: PCS; BoP; supercritical CO 2; supercritical He; supercritical steam; GateCycle (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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