Chinese scientists have achieved a significant breakthrough in their quest for sustainable energy by developing a cutting-edge superconducting plasma device called SWORD. This device, designed to test materials for future fusion reactors, marks a crucial step in China's ambition to harness the power of nuclear fusion.
Chinese scientists have unveiled a superconducting linear plasma device designed to test materials for nuclear fusion reactors. The Superconducting Plasma Wall Interaction Linear Device (SWORD) boasts a sleek design inspired by Chixiao, a legendary ancient Chinese sword. This marks a critical step in advancing China's efforts to develop a fusion reactor capable of producing unlimited power.
The linear plasma generator also makes China the second country after the Netherlands to achieve such advanced high-flux plasma technology. \Researchers at the Hefei-based Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) are conducting experiments to replicate the sun’s fusion process, aiming to generate heat and light. In 2023, EAST set a record by running for 403 seconds in a steady-state high-confinement long plasma operation. \Tokamaks, with their doughnut-shaped design, mimic the nuclear reactions of stars by using magnetic fields to confine loops of superheated plasma—a state of matter composed of ions and electrons. These machines aim to fuse atomic nuclei, generating energy with the potential for unlimited clean power. However, sustaining and stabilizing the extremely hot, volatile plasma remains a significant challenge, demanding extensive effort to control. To address this, Chinese scientists have developed the advanced linear plasma device designed to test the durability and resilience of potential reactor materials. Inspired by the legendary Chixiao sword from ancient China, the device features a streamlined, sword-like design. Measuring 15.5 meters in length and weighing 22.5 tonnes, SWORD can produce an extraordinary plasma flux of 10²⁴ particles per square meter per second. Remarkably, it can operate continuously for over 24 hours, simulating the extreme conditions materials face in fusion environments. According to Hefei Institutes of Physical Science (HFIPS), at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, an expert panel recently confirmed that the device has met all design specifications. Its capabilities allow for advanced testing of plasma-facing materials, a critical step in the development of fusion reactors. “This enables rigorous testing of plasma-facing materials critical for fusion devices, which aim to replicate the sun’s nuclear fusion process using abundant substances from seawater to generate clean energy,” said the institution in a statement. \Since the mid-20th century, scientists have focused on developing experimental devices for controlled nuclear fusion. These large systems, often called “artificial suns,” replicate the fusion reactions occurring in the sun. According to experts, a key challenge in their advancement is designing robust materials capable of withstanding the intense plasma particle bombardment on reactor walls. “For the ‘artificial sun’ to generate electricity continuously for extended periods, it is crucial to develop materials capable of enduring the extreme conditions within the reactor. This requires a highly advanced experimental environment to test plasma-facing materials,” said Zhou Haishan, a researcher at Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP), HFIPS, in a statement. After five years of overcoming technical challenges, SWORD was successfully developed to advance research on China’s next-generation fusion reactors. The team notes the device, designed for testing reactor materials, will also support international collaboration, marking a significant step in global efforts toward sustainable energy through controlled nuclear fusion. \Since its inception in 2006, the EAST reactor has been an experimental testbed for nuclear fusion researchers in China to conduct their research operations. The country has also seen efforts in this domain from a startup called Energy Singulariy with its HH70 tokamak and the HL-3, developed by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC)
CHINA FUSION REACTOR PLASMA TECHNOLOGY NUCLEAR FUSION SUSTAINABLE ENERGY
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