Mission

K-DEMO design and core engineering technology development for the commercialization of fusion energy

Major Research Areas

• K-DEMO descign integration, safety, and licensing research
• Research and development of the fusion fuel system (breeding blanket, material, fuel cycle, diverter, remote control, etc.)
• Simulation and tokamak virtualization research using high-performance supercomputer

Major Research Results

Determined core technologies necessary to demonstrate fusion power generation, and established simulation research infrastructure

• Derivation of 8 core technology areas needed to achieve electricity production demonstration in the 2050s
  8 core technologies for demonstrating fusion power generation
• Development of “Virtual KSTAR” based on KSTAR design data by establishing and utilizing fusion high-performance (1.5PF class) supercomputer (1.5PF class) called “KAIROS”, Starting development of automatic control and diagnostic technology for remote maintenance
  Interlocking and control of the actual robot arm (right) installed in the virtual KSTAR (left) model (1/5 scale)

Expected Results

• Contribute to the accelerated demonstration of fusion energy and improve economic feasibility by establishing a foundation for verification and optimization of the design consistency of the K-DEMO
• Minimization of technical uncertainties and risks of K-DEMO through technology development of virtual fusion reactor

Major Research Area

K-DEMO design and core engineering technology development

• Development of breeding blanket design and manufacturing and system technology for DEMO
• Development of fuel cycle process and system
• Development of diverter design and manufacturing technology for DEMO
• Development and operation of a system integration platform for the design of K-DEMO
• Research on remote control and maintenance, replacement of components, waste treatment and decontamination for DEMO
• Superconductor and magnet research and manufacturing technology development

Research on virtual fusion reactor using digital ‘virtualization technology’

• Development of fusion plasma confinement performance prediction technology
• KSTAR confinement performance prediction and experimental verification through virtual tokamak platform development and virtual KSTAR