As fusion energy edges closer to commercial reality, a central engineering challenge is emerging: the extreme neutron flux bombarding the inner core of reactors, threatening the longevity of critical components, especially seals, structural materials and vacuum vessels. For some first-generation reactors like ARC, this could mean replacing key parts at a certain frequency. But design updates inside ARC propose alternative solutions, like the FLiBe liquid blankets, to mitigate this issue.

As fusion energy edges closer to commercial reality, a central engineering challenge is emerging: the extreme neutron flux bombarding the inner core of reactors, threatening the longevity of critical components, especially seals, structural materials and vacuum vessels. For some first-generation reactors like ARC, this could mean replacing key parts at a certain frequency. But design updates inside ARC propose alternative solutions, like the FLiBe liquid blankets, to mitigate this issue.