Resolving safety issues for a demonstration fusion power plant

The conceptual design studies for a European DEMO, include safety studies and analyses, to help guide the design process and start preparation for eventual licensing. A safety approach has been adopted that is expected to satisfy a nuclear regulator, but at this early stage it is difficult to anticipate the safety concerns that may be raised. Potential safety issues for DEMO that have been listed by a regulatory technical body include decay heat removal following an accidental loss of cooling or during blanket module replacement, the minimization of occupational radiation exposure, the comprehensive identification of postulated accident scenarios, the environmental release of gaseous tritium during normal operation, and the management of radioactive waste, particularly where contaminated with tritium. Here we explain how these issues are being addressed in the safety programme for a EU DEMO, and are taken into account in the design from the beginning of its conception. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.