Fire collaborative: fusion neutrons for integrated blanket technology development through advanced testing and design

The University of Wisconsin–Madison received a $4.37M Cooperative Agreement from the Department of Energy's Office of Science under the Office of Science Financial Assistance Program (CFDA 81.049), effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2026. The award funds the FIRE Collaborative project, which develops integrated blanket technologies for fusion energy devices through advanced testing and design centered on neutron interaction with fusion reactor blanket materials. The project addresses critical fusion energy challenges, particularly tritium breeding in lead-lithium (PbLi) and fluorine-lithium-beryllium (FLiBe) breeding materials and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow characterization in liquid metal coolants under electromagnetic fields.

Deliverables include experimental design and execution of PbLi flow loop testing, computational simulations of MHD physics in fusion blanket environments, validation benchmarking reports for computational fluid dynamics modeling, advanced blanket material development (functionally-graded RAFM/SiC and V-4-4/W composites), and sensitivity analysis methods supporting blanket design. Sub-awardees include the University of Illinois (MHD flow modeling and validation), MIT (tritium breeding tests in PbLi and FLiBe using the SHINE FLARE neutron facility), SHINE Technologies (neutron irradiation testing and tritium measurement), Realta Fusion Inc. (lead-lithium flow loop experiments and device modeling), the Electric Power Research Institute (volumetric neutron source development and consortium establishment), and the University of New Mexico (sensitivity analysis and validation methodology development). Collectively, these collaborating institutions advance the state of fusion blanket physics understanding and accelerate technology readiness for commercial fusion applications.