21st May 2024
AtkinsRéalis has been appointed by UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) to deliver the detailed design of a world-first Isotope Separation System to strengthen research into sustainable fusion delivery
The Isotype Separation System will form part of UKAEA’s Hydrogen-3 Advanced Technology (H3AT) Facility, a world-first tritium fuel cycle research facility to include a prototype-scale process plant and experimental platform, which is a scaled version of the design for ITER. The tritium capacity of this highly complex Isotope Separation System will make it the most advanced research facility of its kind, helping to enable the development of tritium fuel cycle infrastructure necessary for sustainable fusion power.
AtkinsRéalis has already completed the concept and detailed process design of the main H3AT facility, currently under construction at UKAEA’s Culham Campus, in Oxfordshire, alongside the concept and preliminary design of the Isotype Separation System. The AtkinsRéalis team will now deliver detailed process and mechanical designs for the system, including the vital cryogenic- and ambient temperature equipment that will be required to collect, process, and recycle the tritium fuel.
Jason Dreisbach, Head of Advanced Energy Technologies at AtkinsRéalis, said: “The H3AT Facility will be a first-of-a-kind research facility to strengthen UK and international efforts to advance tritium fuel cycle technology. The Isotype Separation System is a key element to demonstrate fusion fuel cycle performance at scale, and we look forward to contributing our significant experience in fusion engineering and tritium to help realise UKAEA’s ambitions.”
Stephen Wheeler, UKAEA Executive Director, said: “We are pleased to continue our partnership with AtkinsRéalis to deliver the Isotope Separation System at UKAEA’s H3AT Facility.
“This system will be the first industrial-scale tritium facility for fusion in the world and will enable industry and academia to study how to process, store and recycle tritium, a key fusion fuel.
“Fusion energy has great potential, not only as a source of abundant, low-carbon energy, but as a driver of economic activity for UK industry. By partnering with organisations like AtkinsRéalis, UKAEA is developing industrial fusion capability, which will enable the UK to become a global exporter of fusion technology.”
AtkinsRéalis will incorporate the use of the latest digital technology, including 4D design, digital twinning and AR/VR simulation to optimise delivery and help researchers and academia to better understand the design and performance of the system.
The appointment builds on the firm’s international fusion expertise: in the UK an AtkinsRéalis-led consortium was appointed Engineering Delivery Partner for phase one of the UKAEA’s Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme, alongside AtkinsRéalis’ existing roles on the STEP programme as Power Infrastructure Partner, Commercial Pathways Partner, and Site Selection & Development Partner. AtkinsRéalis was also appointed to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory’s fusion programme in a multi-disciplinary engineering consortium and has also supported the international fusion facility ITER since 2010 as Architect Engineer through the Engage consortium....
Read the full news release here
