Oxford Sigma joined the fusion community in discussing global developments within the industry as both a sponsor and presenter at the 30th IEEE Symposium on Fusion Engineering (SOFE), between 9 – 13 July 2023 in Oxford, UK.
Dr Thomas Davis, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Oxford Sigma, presented a talk on ‘Fusion Codes & Standards: American Society of Mechanical Engineers’ Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (ASME BPVC) Section III Division 4 (Fusion Energy Devices)’ where Oxford Sigma’s contributions to the topic were presented with support from Tokamak Energy Ltd and ASME. The goals of Division 4 were presented, and the requirements needed from the fusion community were discussed. This type of development in standards within fusion is the bedrock of enabling commercialisation of the ultimate energy source.
In order to demonstrate our position within the fusion community as a Fusion Technology company, Oxford Sigma also presented two posters; these were on ‘Oxford Sigma’s Materials Technology for Fusion Energy’ and the ‘Suppression of Rhenium and Osmium Production in Tungsten by Selective Isotopic Enrichment’.
The posters initiated key conversations between fellow attendees who were eager to understand more about Oxford Sigma’s technology development activities.
The posters also provided a platform to communicate the company’s research with collaborators including Bangor University, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and the University of Birmingham. The poster on the ‘Suppression of Rhenium and Osmium Production in Tungsten by Selective Isotopic Enrichment’ aimed at demonstrating the improvements that could be made through isotopic tailoring of tungsten, including an improvement in the service life of power reactors. The poster on ‘Oxford Sigma’s Materials Technology for Fusion Energy’ demonstrated the various avenues of technology development the company is undertaking including (but not exclusive to):
- Isotopic tailoring of tungsten and tungsten alloys;
- Novel testing rig for high temperature operations;
- Magnetohydrodynamics simulation developments;
- Self-healing blanket materials;
- Novel liquid lithium coatings;
- and Fusion component design optimisation software development.
“As a Fusion Technology company, it is important to Oxford Sigma to engage with and contribute to the necessary discussions and innovative ideas that come from industry-wide gatherings such as SOFE. We were also pleased to sponsor SOFE in bringing together the world’s fusion experts right here to our back garden in Oxford.
Presenting on the ASME BPVC Section III Division 4 construction code and standard’s first volume was also timely given its release this July 2023. This type of development in standards within fusion is the bedrock of enabling commercialisation of the ultimate energy source because it could define the routes for materials qualification and best practices in engineering design.”
~ Dr Thomas Davis, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Oxford Sigma
About Oxford Sigma
Oxford Sigma tackles energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma’s mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services in order to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader within the market.
Get in touch at [email protected]