The Graduate School of Engineering at Japan’s Tohoku University and Kyoto Fusioneering (KF) have signed a joint research agreement to evaluate and handle tritium and activated materials, both essential for operating future fusion power plants. Professor Yuji Hatano of the Tohoku Graduate School of Engineering will collaborate with KF on the project.

Tritium, a radioactive substance, is one of the fuels used to sustain fusion reactions, and must be handled according to strict safety measures. In a fusion power plant, a portion of the tritium supplied to the reactor as fuel does not undergo fusion and is discharged from the reactor and mixed with other gases. Tritium and deuterium are then separated and recovered from this mixed gas and can be reused as fuel. Tritium, therefore, circulates both within the reactor and also through various components and piping. Ensuring safety requires accurate measuring of tritium and selecting structural materials to minimise tritium absorption and permeation.

Another challenge is understanding the behaviour of radioactive materials (activated materials) generated when neutrons produced in fusion reactions interact with atomic nuclei in structural materials. This issue is particularly pressing as private-sector-led fusion energy demonstration projects, such as FAST (Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak), aim to generate power by the 2030s.

Both parties will collaborate on the following initiatives to fully prepare for fusion energy power generation, including the FAST Programme, from the 2030s:

  • Investigating tritium measurement methods;
  • Evaluating material durability under irradiation and in tritium environments (selection of structural materials);
  • Researching waste management policies.

Professor Hatano said he was very encouraged by the growing momentum among industry, government, and academia toward making fusion energy a reality. “In terms of safety, it is essential to ensure that the technologies we are developing are safely managed since handling a certain amount of radioactive materials is unavoidable in fusion power plants. It is also very important to train and develop personnel who can safely handle radioactive materials. I hope to continue to address these key challenges through this joint research with KF, who is playing a leading role in fusion power plant development.”

Yoshifumi Kume, KF Vice President of Plant Technology said the collaboration with Professor Hatano, was a very important step. “We have been working closely with Professor Hatano, who has been providing valuable advice based on his in-depth expertise and decades of experience. I’m confident that, by jointly conducting research on tritium measurement, evaluation, and the selection of structural materials, this collaboration will significantly advance the development of our Fusion Fuel Cycle System.”