If you don’t know yet, nuclear fusion is the process that powers stars. It is different from the process used today in nuclear power plants to produce electricity, known as nuclear fission. Scientists have been interested in the fusion reaction for decades because it is believed to produce large amounts of energy without warming our atmosphere. In short, the development of this technology could allow us to produce enough electrical and thermal energy to meet our needs without endangering the environment.
A fusion reactor in New Zealand
All over the world, research projects aimed at developing fusion reactors are underway. Unfortunately, to date none have resulted in a fully operational prototype. In New Zealand, for example, OpenStar Technologies is working on the country’s first fusion reactor. The company, based in Wellington, focuses on an original design to say the least which requires the use of a powerful electromagnet in the shape of a donut whose weight is approximately 500 kg. Called “Junior”, this magnetic device makes OpenStar Technologies’ approach unique in the world. As our source reports, the company recently managed to power said electromagnet using a patented flux pump technology.
A levitating dipole reactor
The reactor under development in the New Zealand start-up’s laboratory is of the levitating dipolar type. The electromagnet, which incorporates high-temperature superconductors, is considered its central component. Levitating when powered, it is designed to withstand compressive forces of up to 74 tonnes to prevent the phenomenon of self-implosion. Its role is actually to confine the plasma resulting from the reactionwhose temperature exceeds 100 million degrees Celsius. As indicated above, the particularity of this magnetic device lies in the fact that it is powered by patented technology. The latter is based on a conduction cooling process involving the use of a gaseous helium loop.
The Earth’s magnetic field as a source of inspiration
To design its magnetic containment system, OpenStar Technologies was inspired by the way Earth’s magnetosphere protects our planet from charged particles coming from space. For the first time, the company has succeeded in powering the Junior module which includes 14 non-insulated coils using a ReBCO superconductor (mixed oxides of barium, copper and rare earth). The next step will be to refine the design of the reactor as a whole. Indeed, OpenStar Technologies aims to make its machine operational by 2030 to meet the challenges of the energy transition.
Recall that during a speech at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, former US Secretary of State John Kerry presented an international plan. This plan, involving more than 30 countries, aims to promote nuclear fusion to fight global warming. More information: openstar.tech. Will this fusion energy production technology see the light of day in the near future? I invite you to give us your opinion, your comments or point out an error in the text, click here to post a comment.
