For most existing designs, magnetic fusion reactors are supposed to operate continuously, without need to stop for cooling down. However, a fusion reactor would have to be stopped periodically, after operating for a ~1 year, for maintenance. The main reason for that is a high heat and neutron loading of the fusion reactor nuclear zone. The nuclear zone will be exposed to intense heat and neutron radiation, irradiation by ionized particles, and hard X-ray photons. This would severely limit the lifetime of nuclear components, for existing technology; replacing the nuclear components would require shutting down the reactor periodically.
Maxim Umansky
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