PROCESS
Fusion Power Plant Systems Codes: We explore the conceptual design and feasibility of a possible fusion power plant.
System codes
When studying a hypothetical fusion power plant, questions of the following type arise:
- Are the machine’s physics and engineering parameters consistent with one another?
- Which machine of a given size and shape produces the cheapest electricity?
- What is the effect of a more optimistic limit on the maximum plasma density on the amount of auxiliary power required?
Questions such as these are difficult to answer, since the large number of parameters involved are highly dependent on one another. Computer programs to address these issues are known as systems codes. We have developed a systems code called “PROCESS”. The scope of PROCESS is very wide and goes well beyond fusion machine physics, including the heat transfer and energy conversion system and buildings.
PROCESS finds a set of parameters that optimises a Figure of Merit chosen by the user (such as cost of electricity or ratio of fusion power to input power), while being consistent with the inputs and the specified constraints.
The EUROfusion DEMO programme and the UK STEP Fusion programme use PROCESS. If you would like to collaborate by using PROCESS, or by contributing new or improved algorithms, contact the team.
PROCESS papers
- “PROCESS”: a systems code for fusion power plants – Part 1: Physics
- “PROCESS”: a systems code for fusion power plants – Part 2: Engineering
Open access code repository
Help and advice
For technical assistance, contact us.