A new type of magnet designed by researchers at MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) and Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has passed a series of rigorous tests, confirming its potential to be the key to a clean and abundant energy source: fusion power.
The magnet, made from a special high-temperature superconducting material, achieved a record-breaking magnetic field strength of 20 tesla in September 2021. This is the strength needed for a fusion power plant to produce more energy than it consumes.
Detailed Analysis Validates Design
Following the initial success, the team conducted a comprehensive analysis of the magnet. This included dissecting the components, examining data from hundreds of instruments, and performing additional tests that pushed the magnet to its limits.
The results, published in a series of papers in IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, confirm that the magnet’s design is sound and can serve as the foundation for a future fusion power plant.
Revolutionizing Fusion Economics
Prior to this development, fusion reactors were thought to be impractical due to the size and cost of the magnets required. However, the new high-temperature superconductor allows for a much smaller and more economical design.
“Overnight, it basically changed the cost per watt of a fusion reactor by a factor of almost 40 in one day,” said a researcher involved in the project.
Building on a Solid Foundation
The success of this magnet paves the way for a new generation of fusion devices. The data and analysis from the PSFC tests demonstrate that designs like MIT and CFS’s are built on a strong scientific foundation.
Fusion: Clean Energy for the Future
Fusion energy replicates the process that powers the sun and stars. It has the potential to be a limitless source of clean energy with minimal greenhouse gas emissions or radioactive waste.
New Material Requires New Design
The new high-temperature superconductor, REBCO (rare-earth barium copper oxide), operates at a much higher temperature (20 kelvins) compared to previous materials (4 kelvins). This required a complete redesign of the magnet from the ground up.
One key innovation was eliminating the insulation around the superconducting tape. REBCO’s superior conductivity allows the current to flow freely without short-circuiting.
Pushing the Limits
The researchers conducted additional tests beyond the initial success, deliberately creating unstable conditions including a complete power shutoff that could lead to overheating (quenching).
This worst-case scenario test provided valuable data for refining the design and validating computer models.
Decades of Expertise Lead to Breakthrough
The researchers credit the success of this project to the decades of experience and knowledge gained from operating facilities like the Alcator C-Mod tokamak and the Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory at PSFC.
This breakthrough in magnet technology brings us a significant step closer to achieving clean and limitless fusion energy.
News Source: MIT
