DEMO fusion power plant: preliminary sizing analysis of power system

EU-DEMO is a European project for the design and construction of the first nuclear reactor able to produce electrical energy thanks to thermonuclear fusion reactions. The electrical power system of this facility is particular demanding for several reasons. First, the electrical power required to operate DEMO is expected to be huge, especially in comparison to a conventional nuclear plant. Moreover, the operations are intrinsically intermittent, thus introducing specific problems in terms of energy balance and grid stability. This paper deals with a first preliminary study about the sizing and the design of the DEMO internal electrical power system, with a specific focus on the steady-state loads necessary to operate the plant. The design results are obtained and verified through a model for power flow analysis, implemented in DIgSILENT PowerFactory