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Juan Carlos López
Senior WriterAn engineer by training. A science and tech journalist by passion, vocation, and conviction. I've been writing professionally for over two decades, and I suspect I still have a long way to go. At Xataka, I write about many topics, but I mainly enjoy covering nuclear fusion, quantum physics, quantum computers, microprocessors, and TVs.
Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
The journey toward achieving commercial nuclear fusion is undoubtedly filled with numerous small accomplishments. While these achievements may appear modest, they represent significant milestones that progressively bring nations closer to the ambitious goal of meeting their energy needs without further contributing to greenhouse gas emissions.
In this context, ITER has garnered a great deal of attention, and for good reason. It’s a large-scale nuclear fusion project primarily led by the European Union, which is covering around 50% of the total cost. Other nations involved in this groundbreaking initiative include the U.S., Russia, China, Japan, India, and South Korea.
However, the global commitment to nuclear fusion extends beyond ITER and the European Union. While Europe is making crucial scientific advancements, several other countries are also making significant investments in this field. Notably, China and South Korea are among the most advanced in their efforts toward nuclear fusion.
China’s CFETR Experimental Reactor Shows Great Promise
In addition to ITER, China has been working for several years on an ambitious experimental nuclear fusion reactor known as the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor (CFTER). Engineers completed the conceptual design for CFETR in 2015, building on prior work from China’s experimental fusion reactors, including EAST, HL-2A(M), and J-TEXT.
Experts from the commission that certifies nuclear facilities have approved the first section of the vacuum chamber.
CFETR shares many similarities with ITER. The Chinese reactor is intended to complement the reactor currently being constructed in Cadarache in France. It also incorporates knowledge gained from the design and development of ITER. Construction of CFETR is already underway and progressing smoothly. Experts from the Chinese commission that certifies nuclear facilities recently approved the first section of the reactor’s vacuum chamber.
The CFETR reactor’s vacuum chamber will consist of seven sections and stand 66 feet tall. It’ll also be constructed from stainless steel with a very low carbon content. Fusion reactions will occur inside between deuterium and tritium nuclei, which will be magnetically confined in a plasma exceeding 180 million degrees Fahrenheit.
What makes this machine particularly interesting is its operation in two phases. The first phase aims to demonstrate the ability to generate up to 200 MW of power while maintaining a tritium breeding ratio greater than 1. This means it’ll produce more tritium than it consumes, allowing it to be self-sufficient in this radioactive isotope of hydrogen. During the second phase, the CFETR reactor will strive to generate more than 1 GW of power. As such, it’ll function as a demonstration machine that could pave the way for the first commercial fusion power plants if successful.
Image | Engin Akyurt
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