US to advance fusion reactor design to tackle heat, improve fuel

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has launched four new collaborative projects under the Fusion Innovation Research Engine (FIRE) program to address critical challenges in fusion energy development. These projects—SWIFT-PFCs, BCTF, FILMS, and MiRACL—focus on advancing durable materials for reactor components, improving heat extraction and fuel breeding, and enhancing reactor safety. Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) plays a leading role in several initiatives, including developing plasma-facing materials for reactor walls and designing an integrated liquid metal cooling and fuel-breeding system. The BCTF project, led by ORNL, will build the Helium and Salt Technology Experiment (HASTE) facility to test prototype blanket and coolant systems, filling a gap in fusion research infrastructure. Additionally, the MiRACL project, led by Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) with ORNL as a partner, aims to mitigate risks from sudden plasma confinement loss ("disruptions") through simulation and machine