Engineering fusion, project by project.
A selection of the systems we've helped architect, modularize and streamline - from individual subsystems to whole plants.
Architecture. Integration. Clarity.
Fusion devices are extraordinarily complex — tightly coupled, multidisciplinary, and full of uncertainty. No single technology, discipline, or team can deliver on its own. Success depends on how the pieces fit together. Systems engineering brings structure and control to the whole — across disciplines, organisations, and the full project lifecycle.
Develop a clear architectural model, defining structure, interfaces, and design trade-offs. Identify integration risks and weak points early to keep the whole system coherent as the design evolves.
Tailored to your systems and workflows. We create Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), Dependency Structure Matrix (DSM) , and other engineering solutions that fit your organization—not the other way around.
Workshops and coaching in systems thinking, architecture, MBSE and DSM, to help teams collaborate and design better.
A selection of the systems we've helped architect, modularize and streamline - from individual subsystems to whole plants.
Architecting the Plasma Control System (PCS) for a fusion plant is one of the most cross-cutting challenges in fusion engineering — spanning physics, control, and systems disciplines simultaneously. TSM supported the STEP Programme in developing an integrated MBSE model capturing the full dependency structure of the plasma, mapping actuator and diagnostic interfaces, identifying discrete operational limits and events, and formulating quantified operational scenarios — all within a single, coherent architecture that could be communicated across physics, engineering, and programme stakeholders alike.
"Application of MBSE, and particularly the DSM approach, to capture an engineering 'description' of a fusion plasma has been incredibly insightful and a huge leap forward in our ability to understand and communicate the full complexity of the fusion plasma. This has been particularly useful as a tool to support communication between plasma physicists and engineers and helping to understand how the plasma interacts with the plant systems that create and sustain the plasma. This tool has also allowed the formalised assessment and understanding of the internal processes of the plasma such that control strategies can be devised which improve control performance and mitigate plasma instabilities and off-normal events."
Terry Thompson - Whole Plant Control Manager, STEP Fuel Cycle
The STEP project worked with TSM when optimising the architecture for its inner fuel cycle. The inner fuel cycle to plasma interface is one of the most complex interfaces in a fusion plant and the inner fuel cycle is a complex web of interfacing sub-systems. TSM developed a functional MBSE model defining subsystem boundaries, critical interfaces, and a lean control architecture — using DSM analysis to modify the system architecture to simplify interface complexity.
"This package of work with TSM was a great success and showed how a systems approach can be used to unlock new ways of seeing your system. Specifically, the DSM helped architect so to optimise for interface simplification. Simplification of interfaces is key to developing confidence in our design."
Michael Lord - Head of Engineering, STEP Fuel Cycle
Fusion for Energy (F4E) engaged TSM to deliver a series of Dependency Structure Matrix (DSM) workshops at its Barcelona offices. Engineers and project professionals from multiple disciplines applied DSM techniques to real fusion subsystems, structuring products, organisations, and development processes. The workshops provided practical methods to understand complex dependencies, reveal integration challenges, and bring greater clarity to large-scale fusion projects.
"Torben Beernaert designed a training for F4E in Barcelona to explore and practice DSM on real fusion case studies applying his easy-to-use Excel PocketDSM. Torben mixes ideally the theory and the practice of systems engineering with excellent animation skills!"
Ivan Bénilan - Systems Engineer, Fusion for Energy (F4E)
More coming soon…
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