Stephen Combs
About Stephen Combs
Stephen Combs serves as Distinguished R&D Staff at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he has worked since 1974. He has led the development of plasma fueling systems and technologies for over three decades, significantly advancing fusion research.
Work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Stephen Combs has been a Distinguished R&D Staff member at Oak Ridge National Laboratory since 1974. With a tenure of 50 years, he has made significant contributions to the field of plasma fueling systems and related technologies. His role involves leading technical efforts in the development and deployment of these systems across various fusion experiments. Combs has played a pivotal role in establishing Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a leader in pellet injection technology and pellet fueling experiments.
Research and Development Focus
Combs has focused his research and development efforts on hydrogen pellet injectors for plasma fueling of fusion devices. His work spans over three decades, during which he has developed components and systems for numerous fusion experiments. These include notable projects such as the Madison Symmetric Torus, TJ-II Stellarator, Alcator C-Mod, K-STAR, Large Helical Device, Princeton Beta Experiment, and Advanced Toriodal Facility.
Innovations in Plasma Fueling Systems
Recently, Combs has dedicated substantial R&D efforts to create components capable of delivering large quantities of gas to tokamak plasmas in less than 0.1 seconds. This innovation is crucial for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of plasma fueling in fusion devices, further solidifying his contributions to the field.
Global Contributions to Fusion Technology
In addition to his work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Combs has led technical and management roles in deploying plasma fueling systems on experimental fusion devices worldwide. His contributions include significant deployments on the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor and DIII-D tokamak in the United States, as well as the Joint European Torus in England and Tore Supra in France.
Education and Expertise
Stephen Combs studied Chemical Engineering at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, where he earned a Master of Science (MS) degree. His educational background has provided him with the foundational knowledge necessary for his extensive career in research and development within the field of plasma fueling systems.