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New Fusion Record Achieved in Tungsten-Encased Reactor A tokamak successful New Jersey acceptable a caller grounds successful fusion plasma by encasing its absorption successful tungsten, a heat-resistant metallic that allows physicists to prolong blistery plasmas for longer, and astatine higher energies and densities than c tokamaks. Studio Thought Seed of Chucky Was ‘Too Gay, Too Funny' A tokamak is simply a torus- (doughnut-) shaped fusion instrumentality that confines plasma utilizing magnetic fields, allowing scientists to fiddle with the superheated worldly and induce fusion reactions. The caller accomplishment was made successful WEST (tungsten (W) Environment successful Steady-state Tokamak), a tokamak operated by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA). WEST was injected with 1.15 gigajoules of powerfulness and sustained a plasma of astir 50 cardinal degrees Celsius for six minutes. It achieved this grounds aft scientists encased the tokamak’s interior successful tungsten, a metallic with an extraordinarily precocious melting point. Researchers from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory utilized an X-ray detector wrong the tokamak to measurement aspects of the plasma and the conditions that made it possible. “These are beauteous results,” said Xavier Litaudon, a idiosyncratic with CEA and seat of the Coordination connected International Challenges connected Long duration OPeration (CICLOP), successful a PPPL release. “We person reached a stationary authorities contempt being successful a challenging situation owed to this tungsten wall.” Nuclear fusion occurs erstwhile atoms fuse, reducing their full fig and releasing a immense magnitude of vigor successful the process. It is not to beryllium confused with atomic fission, the inverse process by which atoms are divided to nutrient energy. Nuclear fission besides creates atomic waste, portion atomic fusion is seen arsenic a imaginable grail of vigor research: a cleanable process that could beryllium optimized to nutrient much vigor than it took to powerfulness the absorption successful the archetypal place. Hence the hype astir “limitless energy” and likewise optimistic musings. Earlier this year, the Korea Institute of Fusion Energy installed a tungsten diverter successful its KSTAR tokamak, replacing the device’s c diverter. Tungsten has a higher melting constituent than carbon, and according to Korea’s National Research Council of Science and Technology, the caller diverter improves the reactor’s vigor flux bounds two-fold. KSTAR’s caller diverter enabled the institute’s squad to prolong high-ion temperatures exceeding 100 cardinal degrees Celsius for longer. “The tungsten-wall situation is acold much challenging than utilizing carbon,” said Luis Delgado-Aparicio, pb idiosyncratic for PPPL’s physics probe and X-ray de...

#DisruptiveTech 🟢 Two teams of scientists have announced a breakthrough in fusion energy research, demonstrating for the first time the ability to simultaneously achieve high plasma density and confinement in a tokamak reactor. Derived from a Russian acronym, a tokamak is a donut-shaped experimental device that uses magnetic fields to make use of the energy of nuclear fusion. The announcement from the US Department of Energy’s Office of Science revealed that researchers achieved plasma conditions they had previously assumed were mutually exclusive — a density above the Greenwald limit and energy confinement quality roughly 50% better than standard high-confinement mode. One historical challenge lies in finding the balance for sustained fusion reactions. Increasing density often leads to instability and a loss of energy confinement, hampering the overall efficiency. The DOE noted in a press release that its scientists at the DIII-D National Fusion Facility were able to transcend the density limit “while simultaneously maintaining high confinement quality.” If net-positive fusion energy is to ever be achieved, density is key: the more atomic nuclei crashing into each other, the more efficient the reaction will be. Nearly 40 years ago, Martin Greenwald identified a density limit above which tokamak plasmas become unstable, and the so-called Greenwald limit has at best been exceeded by a factor of two in the ensuing decades. Meanwhile, in a study published in Physical Review Letters, physicists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison produced a tokamak plasma that is stable at 10 times the Greenwald limit. The findings may have implications for tokamak fusion reactors, though the researchers caution that their plasma is not directly comparable to that in a fusion reactor. Check out my report 'Feel the Energy: Fusion Power' for DISRUPTED Unboxed: https://lnkd.in/eJvJx_Dr #tokamak #fusionenergy Campaign Catapult, Pravo Consulting

Fusion Facility Generates Twice the Power Put Into It This is big. In late 2022, scientists at the National Ignition Facility claimed to have achieved an important #fusionenergy milestone with their laser-powered reactor: getting more energy out than they put in. Now, the results have cleared the peer review process, confirming the achievement. And it gets even better. The scientists claim in a separate paper to have gotten even better results in subsequent experiments, as New Scientist reports, releasing close to twice the amount of #energy the system consumed. However, as the team was quick to point out, there's still a long road to a commercial fusion reactor. Nonetheless, they hope that by demonstrating it's possible — despite many decades of research, the feat of achieving a net energy gain had long seemed to remain perpetually elusive — the industry will be encouraged to keep trying to realize its goal of a greener future. Unlike nuclear fission, #nuclearfusion involves smashing together particles under extreme conditions. There are several different types of fusion reactors currently being investigated, including the "tokamak," a donut-shaped device that confines plasma using magnetic fields at extreme pressure and temperatures. The National Ignition Facility's reactor at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) takes a notably different tack, bombarding small packets of #hydrogen isotope fuel using what it describes as the "world’s largest and highest-energy laser system." The resulting temperatures are immense, exceeding those found in the Sun. Despite the landmark achievement, there's still plenty of room for improvement, the LLNL's Richard Town told New Scientist. For one, the amount of energy the team got out from the December 2022 trial was minuscule. At the time, the reaction produced around 2.5 megajoules of energy, or about enough electricity to boil a kettle. However, the system could eventually be scaled up — even if it isn't optimized for max output. "A bigger hammer always helps," Town told New Scientist. "If we can get a bigger hammer, I think we could get to target gains of about roughly ten." The scientists are also hoping to switch out the current lasers with high-power laser diodes to bring down the energy consumption and improve yields. But will we ever see a future where fusion reactors can put a dent in our reliance on fossil fuels before it's too late? Some experts remain pessimistic. "Fusion is already too late to deal with the climate crisis," nuclear fusion research fellow at The University of Manchester Aneeqa Khan, who was not involved in the research, told New Scientist. "We are already facing the devastation from climate change on a global scale." From Futurism More on the study: https://lnkd.in/ef5FVAWB

The UK’s JET facility hits fusion breakthrough… Scientists have set a new fusion energy world record, producing 69 megajoules at the Joint European Torus (JET) in the UK. The achievement was the lab's final experiment following 40 years of fusion research. The facility is a donut-shaped tokamak, a type of fusion reactor that traps a cloud of ultra-hot plasma inside a strong magnetic field. In its final run, the JET facility used just 0.2 milligrams of fuel to produce 69 megajoules (12.5 megawatts) – enough to power around 12k homes. Although only for five seconds. Unfortunately, the record also failed to produce a net positive energy balance, requiring far more energy to be put in to achieve these results. According to the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics, it's physically impossible to achieve an energy gain with JET and all other current magnetic fusion experiments worldwide. Fusion reactors mimic the same processes that power stars, and the Sun, by colliding the atoms together to bind them. This is the opposite to nuclear power reactors, which rip atoms apart. Reaching a point where fusion reactors generate a net positive energy output, and produce energy at a realistic scale has been the challenge for decades. It is only in recent years that significant progress has been made. However, the news comes the same week that publication of papers confirm the National Ignition Facility achieved a net #energy gain in 2022. This was using the laser-powered reactor at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. But, the output was small at 2.5 megajoules of energy – enough to boil a kettle. Scientists are now awaiting completion of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France, a much larger and more modern facility than JET. It is hoped that ITER will be able to achieve outputs of up to 700 megawatts using the next-gen reactor. Last year, China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak, reportedly beat its own record, sustaining plasma inside a tokamak for nearly seven minutes. The Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research experiment also managed to maintain temperatures north of 100 million degrees Celsius, enough to fuse atoms, for 30 seconds in 2022… Daily #electronics from Asia insights – connect with me, Keesjan, and never miss a post by ringing my 🔔. #technology #innovation

Fusion energy has been a topic of interest ever since i did my first high school real serious work on it… that was 🤔 some 40 years ago🫣. The progress since then have been painfully slow despite the massive investments justified by the fact that it is considered the holy grail of limitless energy. It took actually more than 40 years just to prove that, beyond the theory, in practice an experiment could result in net positive output. Experts still believe that a commercially viable solution is still decades away (2050+). It is also interesting to note that at some point we know that the convergence of AI and biotech is going to require such a source of energy to explode into its full potential. The AI and biotech revolution that is at our doorstep is already both fascinating and scary only considering current scientific knowledge. I really wonder what a world, where these two fields would have progressed at current exponential rate, could look like if on top we add a source of energy like fusion… 😳😵💫. For anyone interested in all these topics, i highly recommend you read Rehouven Libine ‘s posts and follow him. He is a bottomless source of interesting articles! Thanks Rehouven.

Materials science to the rescue. Tungsten can help stabilize nuclear fusion processes: https://lnkd.in/gVsWDQCr #fusion #nuclear #tungsten #materialsscience

South Korea’s “Artificial Sun” is a leap forward in fusion energy technology.   South Korea's KSTAR fusion reactor successfully sustained a scorching 100 million degrees Celsius (SEVEN TIMES hotter than our Sun's core) for 48 seconds. This record-breaking experiment shatters KSTAR's previous record of 30 seconds set in 2021. The experiment is a massive win for the global scientific community researching fusion reactor technology.   Power from current fission-related power plants is carbon-free, but it poses a radioactive risk. Nuclear fusion reactions pose no such risk. Scientists have encountered the challenge of generating and sustaining the elevated pressure and temperature necessary for fusion reactions until the present.   The KSTAR experiment is important because it demonstrates that we are improving our ability to withstand the severe temperatures and pressures required for fusion.  KSTAR's most recent milestone is especially encouraging for the common "tokamak" reactor design, as it addressed earlier limits by upgrading to tungsten divertors, which can endure severe heat exhaust.   Fusion has the potential to provide virtually limitless clean energy by fusing light elements like hydrogen to release tremendous amounts of energy. Several other global projects also show promise that fusion reactors could be commercialized one day.    UK's Joint European Torus: In 2022, it set a record for fusion energy output (enough to briefly power thousands of homes). US National Ignition Facility: Lasers triggered a fusion reaction, briefly getting more energy out than put in. China's Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak: Sustained superheated plasma for over 400 seconds.   Each of these projects pushes the limits of what's possible. If achieved on an industrial scale, fusion could revolutionize the energy landscape. Fusion energy could ensure: Clean Energy Independence: Fusion will deliver limitless power without greenhouse gas emissions and could minimize fossil fuel reliance and associated geopolitics. Space Exploration: An efficient power source for spacecraft and habitats could enable new space exploration and colonization. The international fusion community faces many obstacles, but the continued innovations offer promise. We're in an exciting new fusion science and development period.   Do you see nuclear fusion as a viable solution for addressing global energy needs?   Let’s discuss this in the comments section.   #NuclearFusion #ArtificialSun #EnergySecurity #cleanenergy #greenenergy #energytransition

Let's talk about Fusion ☀️ Fusion reactors, mirroring the energy processes of stars, aim to provide clean and abundant power through nuclear fusion. They merge hydrogen isotopes like deuterium and tritium under extreme conditions to release massive energy. The main challenge lies in attaining the necessary high temperatures and confining plasma, often in a magnetic, donut-shaped tokamak chamber. Fusion promises an almost unlimited fuel supply from seawater and minimal environmental impact, producing no greenhouse gases and less radioactive waste than fission. Steady advancements are bringing this transformative energy source closer to practical use. 💡 Recent Breakthrough Engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have made a significant leap in fusion reactor materials using spray coating technology, as detailed in Physica Scripta. Their innovation, a cold spray tantalum coating on stainless steel, can endure the harsh environment of fusion reactors, enhancing efficiency. This material is notable for its hydrogen-trapping capabilities, essential for compact fusion devices. The simplicity of this cold spray process, akin to spray painting, allows for on-site repairs of reactor components, reducing costs and downtime. This advancement is a game-changer in fusion technology, improving hydrogen handling and erosion resistance, and it will be integral to the Wisconsin HTS Axisymmetric Mirror (WHAM) prototype. 💼 VC Opportunity The global nuclear fusion market is poised for growth, projected at a 6% CAGR from 2030 to 2040. Fusion technology, which emulates the sun's power, offers enormous energy potential from a small amount of fuel. Just one gram of fusion fuel can produce the energy equivalent of 10 million pounds of coal. This technology is key to a sustainable and safe energy future, meeting growing global energy needs while addressing environmental, economic, and security challenges. Fusion stands out from fission with its safety, minimal radioactive waste, and control capabilities, representing a major shift in the global energy landscape. #fusion #energy #physics #deeptech Tamaz KhunjuaThomas J. White IV

☀️ Fusion energy success confirmed tl;dr: In December 2022, Scientists at the US National Ignition Facility achieved 'break even' - their fusion reaction produced more energy than it consumed. Now, more than 2 years later these findings have been confirmed by peer-review. This proves that fusion energy has true potential to generate massive amounts of clean energy. * * * A pea-sized capsule, bombarded by 192 high-powered lasers, unleashing a burst of energy 1.9 times greater than what was put in. In December 2022, the scientists at the US National Ignition Facility managed to 'break even' - their fusion reaction produced more energy than it consumed for the first time. After rigorous peer review, these findings have been validated and published, marking over five decades of relentless research. This breakthrough in nuclear fusion technology opens up possibilities for an abundant source of clean energy. The process mimics the fusion reactions powering our Sun and stars on a tiny scale. It involves heating deuterium and tritium fuel under extreme conditions to cause an implosion, fusing atoms into helium and releasing energy. While we're still far from commercial-scale applications, passing this ignition threshold has undoubtedly ushered in a new era of fusion research. 🚀 Let's not lose sight of the fact that these experiments consume colossal amounts of energy - 500 trillion watts to be precise. But now we know that it is possible to produce more energy than the input with fusion - and we know how to do it. #FusionEnergy #CleanEnergy #Innovation #Future Image credit: LLNL / National Ignition Facility

Stopping off-the-wall behavior in fusion reactors. by Rachel Kremen for PPPL News - Plainsboro NJ (SPX) Fusion researchers are increasingly turning to the element tungsten when looking for an ideal material for components that will directly face the plasma inside fusion reactors known as tokamaks and stellarators. But under the intense heat of fusion plasma, tungsten atoms from the wall can sputter off and enter the plasma. Too much tungsten in the plasma would substantially cool it, which would make sustaining fusion reactions very challenging. Now, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) have experimental results suggesting that sprinkling boron powder into the tokamak could solve the problem. Boron partly shields the reactor wall from the plasma and prevents atoms from the wall from getting into the plasma. A new computer modeling framework, also led by PPPL researchers, shows the powder may only need to be sprinkled from one location. The experimental results and computer modeling framework will be presented this week at the 66th Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society Division of Plasma Physics in Atlanta. Joseph Snipes, deputy head for Tokamak Experimental Science, is optimistic about the solid boron injection system based on experiments that demonstrated reduced tungsten sputtering after a solid boron injection. The experiments were conducted in three tungsten-walled tokamaks worldwide: one in Germany, one in China, and one in the U.S. "The boron is sprinkled into the tokamak plasma as a powder, like from a saltshaker, which is ionized at the plasma's edge and then deposited on the tokamak's inner walls and the exhaust region," he said. "Once coated with a thin layer of boron, it will stop the tungsten from getting into the plasma and radiating away the plasma energy." Snipes and his colleagues are working on the boron injection system with the ultimate goal of potentially using it in the ITER Organization's reactor-scale tokamak. The injection system is well suited to the task, as it can add boron while the machine is operating. It can also precisely control and limit the amount of boron injected. The deposited boron layers retain the radioactive element tritium, which must be minimized in the ITER tokamak to comply with nuclear safety. Scientists and engineers from ITER and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory also collaborated on this project. Florian Effenberg, a staff research physicist at PPPL, led a separate project to create a computer modeling framework for the boron injection system in the DIII-D tokamak. The framework suggests that sprinkling the boron powder from just one location may provide a sufficiently uniform distribution of boron across the reactor components considered in the simulation domain. https://lnkd.in/dxQ4VgNc