Sheffield Forgemasters to work on General Fusion's demonstration plant

Sheffield Forgemasters will identify routes to manufacture the interior vessel for energy company General Fusion’s demonstration plant. The facility is a step towards bringing zero-carbon fusion energy to the world.
By Ismail Mulla
Published 23rd Jun 2021, 08:48 BST
General Fusion’s proposed Culham demonstration Fusion Plant.General Fusion’s proposed Culham demonstration Fusion Plant.
General Fusion’s proposed Culham demonstration Fusion Plant.

The engineering specialist is using its extensive experience and manufacture capabilities in nuclear power to develop a specification and method of manufacture for the forged, thick-walled pressure vessel body, a key component in the proposed Fusion Demonstration Plant.

The Fusion Demonstration Plant will showcase General Fusion’s Magnetized Target Fusion nuclear power technology at the UKAEA’s Culham Campus, which is a leading hub of fusion research.

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Jesus Talamantes-Silva, research, design and technology director at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “Fusion energy has the potential to be the fuel of the future – the key to carbon-free economies. We are thrilled to collaborate with General Fusion.

“Our initial remit includes evaluation of potential steel grades, modelling of forging and heat treatment processes and their effects on microstructure and properties.

“The scale and manufacturing complexity of the vessel presents significant challenges at all stages, which combined with an element of ‘concurrent design’, requires a flexible and responsive approach to the work.”

Sheffield Forgemasters is establishing practical manufacturing solutions for all aspects of manufacture for the vessel, including steelmaking and forging, heat treatment, mechanical and non-destructive testing, machining and metrology.

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