How fusion happens - ITER · 1. Demonstrate net gain from fusion 2. Demonstrate economically viable...
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MIIFED 2013 1 General Fusion MIIFED 2013
Transcript of How fusion happens - ITER · 1. Demonstrate net gain from fusion 2. Demonstrate economically viable...
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General Fusion
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MISSION 1. Demonstrate net gain from fusion
2. Demonstrate economically viable approach for fusion energy
3. Generate value for investors, enabled by strategic partnerships and
a clear path to commercialization
4. Operate safely, for staff and the public, and deliver on the
environmental benefits of fusion
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General Fusion
General Fusion is developing magneto-inertial fusion (MIF) technology.
• Founded in 2002. Based in Vancouver, Canada.
• 65 employees, mostly experienced plasma physicists, engineers, and technicians
• $55M in funding; 80% from financiers
• Partnerships with national laboratories and industry, including Los Alamos and
Cenovus Energy
• MIF approach first developed in the 1970s. Application of modern industrial
technologies enables new options.
• Technology has promising attributes for commercialization.
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1. Form a torus of
magnetized plasma
2. Confine in conductive
chamber
3. Compress and heat to
fusion conditions
4. Repeat
Magneto-Inertial Fusion
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General Fusion’s Acoustically Driven MIF
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Compressed gas driver
• Uses power plant working fluid
• Low cost
Thick Lead-Lithium blanket
• Extracts heat
• Shields structure
• Breeds tritium
Plasma target
• Pulsed system with no
consumables
Practical
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Development and Financing Plan
Subsystem
Development
Research and
Validation
Proof of
Principle
VC, Strategic, Government, HNW
2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018
Angels, Seed Capital
Technology Development Phases
Financing Phases
Phase 1 Phase 2
Full Scale
Prototype
Commercialization
Progress
to Date
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New
Application:
Partners,
Other Nuclear
Systems
Commercially Available
New
Tech:
General
Fusion
System Integration with Industry
Reactor Steam
Tank
Pulse
Power
Supply
Pulse
Power
Supply Reactor Power
Supply (3-5 MW)
Plasma
Injector
Pistons
ReactorLiquid
PbLi
Steam TurbinesGenerator
Cooling
Tower
Heat Exchanger
Condenser
Tritium
ExtractionHot Steam
D-T Fuel Supply
Reactor ExhaustD-T Capture and
Storage
Hot PbLi
Plasma
Injector
100 MW to
the Grid
Cool Steam
Water Intake
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Important
near-term
milestones
Inherent
technology
advantages
Competitive
economics
Speed and
scale of
opportunity
General Fusion is aggressively pushing ahead with
experimental work to demonstrate MIF potential
– Core physics demonstration in 2014
– In a prototype configuration in 2018
General Fusion’s reactor concept addresses many long-
standing fusion technology challenges
– Neutron damage
– Fuel breeding
– Heat extraction
Approach could deliver attractive system costs
– Capital cost ~$1,900/kW
– Electricity production cost ~$0.03/kWh
Future commercialization program could proceed quickly.
$1T Opportunity.
The Financial Case for General Fusion
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• Private capital is motivated by financial return
• Energy is a big opportunity
– Huge market
– Big challenges (GHGs, resource constraints, cost)
• Private financing for fusion requires
– Reward that balances risk
– Returns in an appropriate timeframe
– Longer timescales can be acceptable if each phase allows investors
a return
“How is the investor after me going to make money?
Because if he can’t, then I can’t.”
-- General Fusion Investor
Private Financing for Fusion
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Clean energy.
Everywhere.
Forever.
Doug Richardson
Chief Executive Officer
604-439-3003 x2003
