The lifetime determination of ARC reactor as a load-following plant in the energy framework

Energy studies are interdisciplinary studies. They involve not just technical aspects, but also environmental, social and political aspects. In this framework, an advanced technological innovation as a part of simple solution for the energy problem is considered. The role of the fusion energy as new energy source and in particular the project Affordable Robust Compact (ARC) fusion reactor as new technology is presented as part of energy policy. The most innovative characteristics of ARC is its integration in the energy grid as load-following power plant. In particular, the proposed study investigates the stresses induced in the vacuum vessel, the closest component to the plasma. The performed analysis has been focused on the quantification of time in which the vessel would fail due to repeated thermal stress when it works as load-following. It has been demonstrated that the vacuum vessel lifetime can be quantified from three to five years on the basis of the thermal cycles considered (i.e. 3, 10 and 20 cycles per day).