Synergies between FNT developments and advanced nuclear fission technologies

The development of future fusion power plants will face similar development issues as future generation of fission plants in order to achieve the goals of technical feasibility and operability. Except for plasma physics, the major challenges for fusion reactors are in the areas of materials development for the heat source structures (plasma facing material for fusion and materials for the fission core) and design of cooling systems for high efficiencies. Helium cooling systems have been proposed for both future fusion plants and advanced fission reactors, in particular those for GEN IV programme. They offer the potential of high efficiencies in combination with advanced high-temperature resistant materials. Therefore, synergies for fusion and fission reactor development could be realized for development in these two areas. For example, the testing of major components of the helium cooling systems for the two power plant systems, as well as the non-nuclear testing of materials, could be possible within common test loops in which different test sections will have to be integrated. The identification of possible synergies in the relevant R&D programmes should be endorsed to minimise the development effort for future power plants. However, the assumed time schedules for the realisation of future fusion and fission reactors have to be taken into account.