TFTR Tritium Program

The Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) at Princeton began operation in December 1982. Since then it has operated successfully with protium and deuterium achieving energy confinement time at peak electron density of 1019 m−3s, with ion temperatures of 20 keV. This paper describes the systems and preparations required for D-T operation, i.e. introducing and operating the tokamak with tritium in order to achieve the scientific break even point of Q=1. These systems include the tritium storage and delivery system, the tritium injection systems, the tritium clean-up systems, and the plasma exhaust and collection systems. It is expected that TFTR will have these systems fully operational, with trained personnel, in order to perform the first major alpha particle measurements in DT plasmas by April 1990, with full tritium injection October 1990.