ITER: the 'path' to new energy source

The purpose of the ITER reactor to be built at Cadarache will be to study combustion plasma physics in an experimental machine applying the fundamental principles of nuclear fusion technology in order to demonstrate the scientific and technical feasibility of fusion energy for peaceful purposes. The ITER international organisation, established under the terms of an agreement signed on 21 November 2006, will be responsible for the design, construction and operation of the ITER reactor. Design and operation were the subject of exhaustive studies to prove that this nuclear fusion reactor could meet safety and environmental protection objectives. The safety analysis has showed 2 main risk factors: the presence of tritium and the particulates produced in the plasma-wall interaction. At any moment of its running the ITER reactor is likely to contain a few kg of tritium. As for the particulates, they are going to pile up during ITER operation, ITER's design allows an accumulation of a few hundreds kg of carbon, beryllium and tungsten particulates in the toroid chamber. The main safety function, which is to prevent the release and dispersion of radio-toxic materials, is thus performed by two independent containment barriers. The first barrier is made up of the toroid vacuum chamber, the cooling system, the tritium processing system and the confinement systems of wastes. The second barrier involves hot cells, the containment building, and ventilation systems