Fusion Thermal-Hydraulics Challenges Workshop

UKAEA and CCP-NTH are delighted to be organising a Fusion Thermal-Hydraulics Challenges Workshop on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, at Inox, University of Sheffield.

The workshop will bring together experts from UKAEA and academia to discuss key challenges in fusion thermal-hydraulics. A draft outline of the programme is attached for your reference. The programme will feature two main components: 1) Academic research updates, where leading UK university groups will showcase their latest work, 2) Six thematic sessions led by UKAEA researchers, covering critical topics in fusion thermal-hydraulics.

Programme

08:30 – 09:00 | Registration & Welcome Coffee

09:00 – 09:15 | Opening Remarks

Welcome – Shuisheng He, University of Sheffield
Overview – Marat Margulis, UKAEA

09:15 – 10:00 | Session 1 – Liquid Metal Coolants in Fusion Systems (30 min presentation + 15 min discussion) – Gerasimos Politis, UKAEA

10:00 – 10:45 | Session 2 – Diagnostics & Experimental Methods in Fusion Thermal Hydraulics (30 min presentation + 15 min discussion) – Nejdet Erkan, UKAEA

10:45 – 11:00 | Coffee Break

11:00 – 12:30 | Academic Research Group Updates (15 min each)

11:00 – Prof. Shuisheng He, University of Sheffield
11:15 – Dr. Alex Skillen, University of Manchester
11:30 – Prof. Yannis Hardalupas, Imperial College London
11:45 – Dr. Hao Xia, Loughborough University
12:00 – Prof. Mike Bluck, Imperial College London

12:15 – Prof. Peter Ireland, University of Oxford (Online)

12:30 – 13:30 | Lunch Break

13:30 – 14:15 | Session 3 – Simulation & Modelling Challenges in Fusion Thermal Hydraulics (30 min presentation + 15 min discussion) – Aleksander Dubas / James Bailey, UKAEA

14:15 – 15:00 | Session 4 – Gas and Water Coolants in Fusion Systems (30 min presentation + 15 min discussion) – Chris Harrington, UKAEA

15:00 – 15:15 | Coffee Break

15:15 – 16:00 | Session 5 – High Heat-Flux Management in Plasma-Facing Components
(30 min presentation + 15 min discussion) – Nakul Sashidharan, UKAEA

16:00 – 16:45 | Session 6 – Molten Salts for Fusion Applications
(30 min presentation + 15 min discussion) – Marat Margulis, UKAEA

16:45 – 17:00 | Closing Remarks & Next Steps