Recently, a research team led by Prof. GUO Bin from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, published a comprehensive review that systematically analyzes heat extraction and power conversion pathways for fusion power plants, providing an integrated framework for efficient fusion energy-to-electricity conversion.
The work was published in Energy.
Fusion power plants generate thermal energy over a wide temperature range, mainly from the blanket, divertor, and vacuum vessel, with outlet temperatures spanning from about 150 °C to above 1000 °C, depending on reactor concepts and coolant choices. Effectively converting this distributed, multi-grade heat into electrical power remains one of the key challenges for the commercialization of fusion energy.
This study is the first systematic review to jointly examine primary heat transfer systems and energy conversion systems (ECS) in fusion power plants, integrating previously fragmented studies into a unified analytical framework. It summarizes recent progress, identifies major technical and engineering challenges, and proposes integrated solution pathways for efficient and reliable fusion power conversion.
The researchers review and compare major primary heat transfer technologies and analyze their coupling with downstream power cycles. Different energy conversion options are evaluated in terms of thermal efficiency, exergy losses, operational flexibility, and fusion-specific constraints, including neutron irradiation, tritium management, and material compatibility.
Unlike previous studies that treat heat extraction and power generation separately, this review emphasizes system-level integration, demonstrating that temperature mismatches between reactor components and power cycles can lead to significant exergy losses and reduced overall efficiency. Design and operational experience from major international fusion programs is also synthesized to link conceptual designs with long-pulse operational practice.
This study provided an integrated framework to support the development of high-efficiency and reliable fusion power plants, according to the team.
(a) Fusion power utilization (b) Global energy demands (c) Maintenance and thermal efficiency (d) Thermal performance based on energy cycle (Image by Salman)
A comprehensive review of primary heat transfer and energy conversion systems in fusion power plants
