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N E 536

FEASIBILITY OF FUSION POWER PLANTS BASED ON CONTROLLED NUCLEAR FUSION

3 credits.

Introduction to the main aspects of fusion power plants and the underlying plasma physics. Key design considerations will be summarized related to fusion fuels, resources, plasma physics, plasma-facing materials, magnets, neutronics, shielding, tritium breeding blankets, structural materials, activation, radiation damage, neutral beams, wave heating current drive, safety, and environmental concerns. Focus on magnetic confinement fusion and its near-term and longer-term prospects.

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: N E 305 , M S & E 331 , E C E 330 , M E 364 , CBE 320 , PHYSICS 322 , graduate/professional standing, or member of Engineering Guest Students Course Designation: Grad 50% - Counts toward 50% graduate coursework requirement Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Fall 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Evaluate and compare important characteristics of magnetic fusion energy systems under different configurations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Evaluate the technological performance challenges to the key components of a magnetic fusion energy system Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Describe the challenges to the feasibility of magnetic fusion energy Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Discuss the role of fusion energy as part of future energy systems, including its economic viability Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Evaluate and compare the important characteristics of inertial fusion energy and aneutronic fusion Audience: Graduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Evaluate and compare important characteristics of magnetic fusion energy systems under different configurations Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 2. Evaluate the technological performance challenges to the key components of a magnetic fusion energy system Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 3. Describe the challenges to the feasibility of magnetic fusion energy Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 4. Discuss the role of fusion energy as part of future energy systems, including its economic viability Audience: Both Grad & Undergrad 5. Evaluate and compare the important characteristics of inertial fusion energy and aneutronic fusion Audience: Graduate

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