Progress and Challenges of Handling Fusion Radioactive Materials

Abstract

The importance of handling the sizable mildly radioactive materials that fusion generates received more attention in recent years. Disposing such sizable radwaste in geologic repositories is not a viable option. We suggest changing what is now a costly waste disposal concern for fusion energy into a valued commodity through the further development of the recycling and clearance approaches. This paper reports the outcome of two recent activities that identified the challenges of handling the radioactive materials of ARIES-ACT-2 power plant along with the required design changes and R&D programs that make the recycling/clearance approach a reality, and the development of a new detritiation code that predicts the efficiency of tritium recovery from metallic materials – an essential process before recycling.