Open Technological Questions Of The Back-End Of The Fusion Materials Cycle

Within the framework of the International Energy Agency (IEA), an international collaborative study on fusion radioactive waste has been carried out over the past several years to examine the back-end of the material cycle. This activity is important to maximize the environmental benefits of fusion as a source of energy. Fusion devices have certain characteristics that make them environmentally friendly devices. In previous studies, an integrated approach to the management of fusion materials back-end was proposed, starting from the removal of components from the power plant, to the reuse of materials through recycling and clearance, or the disposal of the low-level waste in repositories. Recycling and clearance procedures pose many technical questions. Several important technology-related issues were identified and are presented. The paper discusses these issues and considers the requirements to the materials and components permitting their clearance or recycling