The world's first high-temperature superconducting tokamak device is revolutionizing fusion.
China-based fusion energy company Energy Singularity has set a record by building the world’s first high-temperature superconducting tokamak device. This is a significant development for fusion energy.
China recently completed and launched the world’s first fully high-temperature superconducting tokamak device, named HH70. This achievement marks a significant leap in the global development of fusion technology for clean energy.
Another Fusion Breakthrough from China
Designed and manufactured by China-based fusion energy company Energy Singularity, the HH70 is smaller and cheaper compared to other tokamak devices, which is crucial for future commercial fusion reactors. What makes the HH70 unique is its magnetic system, built using high-temperature superconductivity for the first time in the world. According to reports, Energy Singularity completed the device’s installation in just two years, making it the fastest development and construction of a superconducting tokamak device in history.
Energy Singularity states that breakthroughs in high-temperature superconducting materials and other technologies over the past few years have made it possible to develop an economically viable tokamak.
For those unfamiliar, a tokamak is a type of nuclear fusion reactor where plasma is confined and controlled using magnetic fields. Nuclear fusion, which also occurs in the Sun and stars, is a process where two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing a large amount of energy. This is the opposite of the fission process used in nuclear power plants. The goal of tokamaks is to replicate this process on Earth in a controlled manner to provide a clean and virtually limitless energy source.
Energy Singularity will now begin testing the device. However, the company has plans beyond this device. According to their announcement, they aim to construct a new generation tokamak with steady-state and high magnetic fields by 2027. Guo Houyang, co-founder and CTO of Energy Singularity, states that they aim to establish a demo power plant by 2030.
Source :
https://interestingengineering.com/energy/china-commercial-tokamak-nuclear-fusion
