The British company Tokamak Energy has announced a demonstration of a revolutionary technology for protecting superconducting magnets in fusion reactors such as spherical tokamaks. It is argued that the technology will lead to commercially viable compact fusion reactors and are much more efficient than alternative systems. Demonstration of the installation will take place in 2022 and commercial distribution is expected by 2030.
Tokamak Energy is systematically improving spherical tokamaks for government subsidies and private investments. For example, this year the two-meter spherical ST-40 tokamak should heat the plasma to 100 million ° C and above. In previous demonstrations in the summer of 2018, the compact ST-40 reactor heated plasma to 15 million ° C. The modernizations carried out since then have allowed the plasma temperature to be raised to record values for such a baby.
Inside the tokamak, the heated plasma is confined by the strongest magnetic field, so the role of magnets can hardly be overestimated. The parameters of magnets are especially important for spherical tokamaks with a small solenoid in the center. Tokamak Energy relies on high temperature superconducting magnets and magnet scaling technologies. The stronger the magnet in the smaller version, the smaller the dimensions of the working chamber of the reactor, and here the protection of superconducting magnets from plasma damage comes to the fore.
According to Tokamak Energy, they have developed unparalleled technology for protecting superconducting magnets and are preparing to create a facility using it. The launch of the installation with a new strapping with superconducting magnets is scheduled for next year. It will be a breakthrough if the upgraded ST-40 heats the plasma to temperatures well above the immediate target of 100 million ° C. This will not lead to an instant solution to the issue, but little by little it will move the developers towards the desired goal - to create compact thermonuclear reactors.
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