The Japanese JT-60SA fusion reactor.
© NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF QUANTUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
The JT-60SA fusion reactor is the largest completed research reactor in the world. Last week he created his first plasma.
The largest nuclear fusion research reactor is in Japan and opened last week “excited” for the first time. Although the first operation probably lasted significantly less time, the Tokamak JT-60SA designed to maintain a 200 million degree plasma for 100 seconds. This puts it in the top league of fusion reactors.
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The successful demonstration “proves to the world that the machine is fulfilling its basic function,” says Sam Davis, project manager at Fusion for Energy, an EU organization working on the JT-60SA with the National Institutes of Science and Technology. Quantum Science from Japan. However, it is still likely that serious physical experiments will be carried out in the fusion reactor up to 2 years last.
The JT-60SA findings will also be used in the construction of ITER help the gigantic international research reactor currently being built in France. ITER aims to show for the first time that nuclear fusion can generate more energy than is needed to produce plasma.
Old research reactor rebuilt from scratch
Japan also applied to host ITER in the early 2000s, but France was ultimately chosen. As compensation, there was an agreement between Japan and the EU that allowed the modernization of Japanese territory JT-60 Reactor offered. The research reactor has been considered a flagship of Japanese fusion research since the 1980s.
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Although the building around JT-60 was maintained, the reactor was built from scratch. O 15.5 meters tall JT-60SA (the name stands for Japan Tokamak Super Advanced). 135 cubic meters of plasma – about one-sixth of the volume of European ITER.
Various delays
Construction took 15 years and costs are estimated at around 400 million euros, although the exact costs are unclear. The JT-60SA was expected to enter service in 2016 Earthquake in 2011 however, it caused delays.
During a test in March 2021, a short circuit occurred in the cable that powered one of the reactor’s superconducting magnetic coils. O Short circuit was attributed to inadequate insulation at a critical cable connection. The incident occurred when the current in the circuit was minimal, which prevented damage to the solenoids. Even so, it was decided to check the isolation of 100 connections, which took 2.5 years.
No experience with tritium
JT-60SA is only being used for experiments hydrogen It is deuterium perform. Tritium – a third form of hydrogen, which is expensive, scarce and radioactive – is not used. However, this fuel is considered the most efficient option for energy production, which is why ITER plans to use a deuterium-tritium fuel from 2035.
Japan also wants to have its first demonstration reactor by 2050 DEMONSTRATION build, a further development of ITER. The aim is to show for the first time that commercial electricity generation through nuclear fusion is possible.