STEP into Fusion An introduction to magnetic confinement fusion at the UK Atomic Energy Authority
Event details
Nuclear Physics Masterclass
This webinar is part of a series of four webinars for the Binding Blocks Nuclear Physics Masterclass.
Society faces an enormous challenge with the worldwide need for energy increasing, while at the same time energy generation must be decarbonised to prevent the catastrophic effects of climate change. Fusion offers the potential to be a safe, sustainable, low-carbon energy source. With this in mind, the Government issued a UK Fusion Strategy in 2021, and the STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme aims to deliver a UK prototype fusion energy plant by 2040. It will hopefully demonstrate the commercial viability of fusion. In 2022, West Burton in Nottinghamshire was chosen to be the site of this prototype power plant. Fusion technologist, Chris Ashe, and Development Engineer, Sunchi Chen, will give an overview of the physics and engineering needs of a fusion power plant and how we will address them with STEP. The latest results in fusion, including the record-breaking final pulses achieved with the JET tokamak in Culham, Oxfordshire will also be discussed.
About the speakers
Christopher Ashe - Having finished university as a Graduate Fusion Technologist, Chris completed the graduate scheme at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and is now a full-time Fusion Technologist. He currently resides in the Power Plant Modelling & Integration (PPMI) group and is responsible for the development of the PROCESS & BLUEMIRA whole plant modelling codes, which means he works at the cutting edge of fusion design.
- At UKAEA, he has worked on several projects, including:
- Creation and running of real-time plasma control systems for JET.
- Testing of novel gamma-camera systems to help identify key waste for JET's decommissioning.
- Producing integrated whole plant concept designs for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP).
Sunchi Chen - Having completed the graduate scheme at the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), Sunchi is now a Development Engineer. She recently took the post of Technology Lead, and she is responsible for the development of novel technologies for Fusion Energy.
- At UKAEA, she has worked on several projects, including:
- Development of dissimilar metal joining techniques.
- Development of surface treatments for super dark and high thermal efficiency metallic surfaces.
- Design of a satellite maintenance robotic arm.
- Inboard in-vessel systems for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP).
- Technology transfer from Fusion to other industries, such as Aerospace and Medical.