Oxford Sigma’s President & Chief Technology Officer, Dr Thomas Davis, was invited to speak at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) public meetings on fusion energy. Dr Davis presented on the “Overview and establishment of the ASME Section III Division 4 (Fusion Energy Devices) subcommittee Special Working Group for Fusion Stakeholders (SWGFS)”. Dr Thomas Davis is the Chairman of the American Society of Mechanical Engine (ASME) Boiler & Pressure Vessel Code (BPVC) Section III Division 4 Special Working Group for Fusion Stakeholders. The group’s aim is to provide a venue for stakeholders to voice their needs and development direction, provide comments and suggest input on the development of rules for the construction of fusion energy devices within ASME Section III, Division 4 ‘Fusion Energy Devices’ code.
ASME BVPC Section III has served as the construction code for nuclear reactors since 1956. ASME BPVC Section III Division 4 ‘Fusion Energy Devices’ is currently being developed to produce a construction code and standard for use by fusion energy vendors. Serving on the committee are volunteers in the engineering and manufacturing fields, one of which is Oxford Sigma sponsored by Tokamak Energy Ltd.
“The productive and informative discourse between major stakeholders—from private fusion companies and the supply chain to nuclear regulators and government—is the core of the foundation for the commercialisation of fusion energy. It was a pleasure to contribute to this dialogue by introducing our efforts at the public NRC hearing meetings that the ASME BPVC Section III Division 4 and Fusion Stakeholders committees on building a suitable design code for fusion energy devices.” ~ Dr Thomas Davis, President & CTO Oxford Sigma.
The US NRC was created as an independent agency by Congress in 1974 to ensure the safe use of radioactive materials for beneficial civilian purposes while protecting people and the environment. The NRC regulates commercial nuclear power plants and other uses of nuclear materials, such as in nuclear medicine, through licensing, inspection and enforcement of its requirements. The NRC has regulatory jurisdiction over commercial fusion energy devices.
The US Department of Energy (DOE) and the NRC, working with the Fusion Industry Association as a co-facilitator, host public forums on a regulatory framework for Fusion. The purpose of this DOE-NRC Public Forum is to begin a dialogue on a regulatory framework for fusion for any type of fusion energy reactor system supported by either the public sector or private sector with domestic and international regulating bodies.
More information on ASME BPVC Section III Division 4 can be found here.
For more on ASME BPVC Section III Division 4 Fusion Stakeholders, have a read here.
Oxford Sigma develops novel technologies for fusion energy, provides solutions in advanced nuclear energy, and supports the defence industry. We also provide technical and regulatory-based consultancy. We are expanding at a fast pace in the energy and defence sectors. Through collaboration with industry, academia, and government, the company has expanded into patent and product development in fusion technology, as well as expanding its services into defence & energy strategy.
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