Unveiling the Mysteries of Nuclear Fusion
In the race to commercialize nuclear fusion, a significant shift has occurred. A high school senior has made waves in the fusion world by constructing a nuclear fusion reactor for a school science project.
Cesare Mencarini, an Italian student studying in the United Kingdom, taught himself coding and electrical systems. He used YouTube and the internet to build a custom-made reactor controlled and hosted from a Raspberry Pi system. His reactor was successful in achieving plasma, the fourth state of matter, a critical step in the fusion process. This was done by using high voltage to heat atoms to the required temperatures.
Mencarini's work has earned him a college scholarship where he will work on larger reactors. His aim is to inspire other young people to develop ideas and consider how we can enhance our world through innovation.
Implications for the Fusion World
Mencarini's success could serve as an inspiration to the thousands of scientists associated with the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the CERN Council decided in June 2022 to cease cooperation with Russia, affecting 500 scientists affiliated with Russian institutions.
Around 100 of the Russian-affiliated scientists have found other sponsorship and will continue working with CERN. However, the Russian government withdrew US$46.8 million from the financing of the upgrading of CERN’s large hadron collider and will no longer supply 4.6% of the LHC’s experimental budget.
Collaboration in Fusion Research
In November, CERN signed an agreement with members of EUROfusion, a European consortium of fusion research laboratories. This agreement aims to facilitate collaboration on the development of innovative technologies for future colliders and nuclear fusion reactors. EUROfusion's laboratories are working on a technical design of a fusion demonstration power plant (DEMO) to follow ITER (the International Fusion Reactor).
ITER, which began in 1985, was a collaborative effort involving China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, the United States, and the European Union. It was supported by the European Atomic Energy Community and aimed to bring fusion to a point where a demonstration fusion reactor could be designed.
Current Status of ITER
The construction of the ITER tokamak began in 2010, and the 1,250-tonne cryostat base was installed at the 42-hectare site in May 2020. The latest news from ITER is a plan to build a more complete machine than was initially planned. The goal is to achieve full magnetic energy by 2036 and the start of the deuterium-tritium operation phase by 2039. More information is expected at the ITER Council meeting in November.
US Efforts in Nuclear Fusion
While European efforts are slowing down, the pursuit of nuclear fusion is intensifying in the United States, particularly in Wisconsin.
At the National Ignition Facility in Livermore, California, a significant advancement in fusion ignition was achieved in December 2022. This was done using 192 lasers concentrated on a tiny gold cylinder consisting of a diamond capsule loaded with deuterium and tritium. At one point, hydrogen atoms integrated into helium, emitting energy of 3.15Mj that exceeded the 2.05Mj contribution from the lasers.
This successful experiment marked a paradigm shift in the nuclear energy sector. It reignited interest and investment in fusion energy, which promises virtually unlimited power with minimal safety risks and little to no waste issues. The challenge remains to maintain the delicate balance of conditions necessary for fusion.
Advancements at MIT and in the Private Sector
MIT researchers recently published a study addressing the problem of building tokamats that can withstand the incredibly hot plasma. Senior researcher Ju Li described a method for drawing away problematic helium atoms that can damage the tokamak’s inner walls. This is done by dispersing iron silicate into the bulk metal.
A July survey by the Fusion Industry Association reported that among 45 private fusion companies worldwide, 25 were headquartered in the United States. Notably, three of these firms, Realta Fusion, Type One Energy, and SHINE Technologies, were spun out of the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Wisconsin's Role in Nuclear Fusion
Wisconsin's involvement in the nuclear fusion industry began with the founding of the Fusion Technology Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1971. The state has the potential to become a global hub for the fusion industry in the 21st Century, similar to Detroit's role in the global automobile industry in the 1950s and Houston's current role in the global oil and gas sector.
Bottom Line
The race to commercialize nuclear fusion is heating up, with significant advancements and shifts occurring in the field. From high school students building reactors for science projects to major research institutions and private companies making strides in fusion technology, the future of energy production could be on the verge of a revolution. What are your thoughts on these developments? Do you believe nuclear fusion is the future of energy production? Share this article with your friends and sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
Unveiling the Mysteries of Nuclear Fusion
In the race to commercialize nuclear fusion, a significant shift has occurred. A high school senior has made waves in the fusion world by constructing a nuclear fusion reactor for a school science project.
Cesare Mencarini, an Italian student studying in the United Kingdom, taught himself coding and electrical systems. He used YouTube and the internet to build a custom-made reactor controlled and hosted from a Raspberry Pi system. His reactor was successful in achieving plasma, the fourth state of matter, a critical step in the fusion process. This was done by using high voltage to heat atoms to the required temperatures.
Mencarini's work has earned him a college scholarship where he will work on larger reactors. His aim is to inspire other young people to develop ideas and consider how we can enhance our world through innovation.
