Abstract
Within the ARIES-CS project, design activities have focused on developing the first compact device that enhances the attractiveness of the stellarator as a power plant. The objectives of this paper are to review the nuclear elements that received considerable attention during the design process and provide a perspective on their successful integration into the final design. Among these elements are the radial build definition, the well-optimized in-vessel components that satisfy the ARIES top-level requirements, the carefully selected nuclear and engineering parameters to produce an economic optimum, the modeling for the first time ever-of the highly complex stellarator geometry for the three-dimensional nuclear assessment, and the overarching safety and environmental constraints to deliver an attractive, reliable, and truly compact stellarator power plant.