Future of Clean Energy: Prospects of Nuclear Fusion
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Sustainability".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 328
Special Issue Editors
Interests: fusion plants; plasma physics; materials science and technology
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Nuclear fusion is the process of combining atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy in the process. This is the same process that powers the sun and other stars. Nuclear fusion has the potential to provide a nearly unlimited source of clean energy.
Unlike traditional nuclear power, which generates energy through the splitting of atomic nuclei (fission), fusion does not produce long-lived radioactive waste. In addition, the fuel for fusion reactions (hydrogen isotopes) is abundant, and deuterium (one of hydrogen isotopes) can be easily obtained from seawater in the first-generation fusion plant used by the deuterium-tritium reaction.
The development of practical fusion reactors would have a profound impact on global energy systems, potentially helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and dependence on fossil fuels. It would also increase energy security by reducing the need for imports of fuel from unstable regions. Despite the potential benefits, there are still significant technical challenges to overcome before fusion can be commercialized. Currently, in order to realize the safe future fusion reactor, there is a need to develop the engineering technology, including the fuel breeding system and the control system that encompasses them, to sustain the burning plasma.
The aim of this Special Issue is to shed light on new research in nuclear fusion, as it has the potential to be a game-changer in the world of energy production, offering a clean, safe, and nearly unlimited source of power. The development of fusion technology is an important step towards a more sustainable energy future and a crucial component of efforts to address climate change.
In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Burning plasma;
- Materials science and technology;
- Fueling and exhaust; tritium technology, tritium breeding system;
- Computing and modeling;
- Artificial intelligence (AI);
- Neutronics: development and use of diagnostics, test facilities and application methods;
- Innovative concepts; hydrogen production, high-temperature superconducting coil;
- Plant engineering, control methods;
- Integration with society.
I look forward to receiving your contributions.
Dr. Naoko Ashikawa
Dr. Hirotaka Chikaraishi
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- burning plasma
- plant engineering
