Latest news with #Barabaschi
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New nuclear fusion reactor's electromagnet could lift 10 monster trucks
The world's largest and most powerful superconducting electromagnet is ready to become the pulsing 'heart' inside of a massive tokamak nuclear fusion reactor. Developed over 40 years in collaboration with over 30 countries, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) facility in southern France aims to finally demonstrate nuclear fusion's potential as a commercially viable energy source. But in order to do that, ITER requires a six module Central Solenoid magnet system that weighs nearly 3,000 tons. Once assembled, the installation will be strong enough to lift a 112,000-pound aircraft carrier, or about 10 monster trucks. An acronym of the Russian-language designation of 'toroidal chamber with magnetic coils,' a tokamak is a donut-shaped fusion reactor that relies on pulsed magnetic charges to ionize only a few grams' worth of deuterium and tritium hydrogen gas fuel. The ionized plasma is then confined by an 'invisible cage' of magnetic energy while external heating systems increase plasma temperature to over 270,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit—or hotter than the sun's core. At that point, the plasma's atomic nuclei begin to combine (hence 'nuclear fusion'), in the process releasing unprecedented amounts of heat that can then hypothetically be used to provide limitless, clean energy to the masses. ITER engineers expect their tokamak reactor to generate 500 megawatts (Mw) of fusion power using just 50 Mw of input heating–compared with a nuclear fission reactor's roughly 1,000 Mw of power output from an input of 3000 Mw . This will enable ongoing fusion to become a mostly self-heating burning plasma. All that immense energy will be contained using the Central Solenoid's magnetic forces. 'It is like the bottle in a bottle of wine: of course the wine is maybe more important than the bottle, but you need the bottle in order to put the wine inside,' ITER director general Pietro Barabaschi recently explained to Reuters. ITER has been plagued with delays for years thanks to a combination of logistical challenges, shifting geopolitical landscapes, and financial burdens. Now that the final Central Solenoid module is complete, all that's left is to finish installing the reactor's components and ready the facility for testing—but even that will take time. ITER's start-up phase for generating plasma likely won't take place until at least 2033. Even so, Barabaschi remains hopeful about the tokamak reactor's potential, as well as what it represents on a global scale. 'This achievement proves that when humanity faces existential challenges like climate change and energy security, we can overcome national differences to advance solutions,' he said in a statement. 'The ITER Project is the embodiment of hope. With ITER, we show that a sustainable energy future and a peaceful path forward are possible.'
Japan Today
02-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Today
Global nuclear fusion project crosses milestone with world's most powerful magnet
By David Stanway A much-delayed nuclear fusion project involving more than 30 countries is ready to assemble the world's most powerful magnet - a key part of efforts to generate clean energy by smashing atoms together at super-high temperatures. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, based in southern France and backed by the United States, China, Japan, Russia and the European Union, needs the magnetic system to create an "invisible cage" to confine super-hot plasma particles that combine and fuse to release energy. ITER said late on Wednesday that the final component of the system - the central solenoid - had been completed and tested by the United States, and assembly was now underway. "It is like the bottle in a bottle of wine: of course the wine is maybe more important than the bottle, but you need the bottle in order to put the wine inside," said Pietro Barabaschi, ITER's director general. The magnet was originally scheduled for completion in 2021, but has been beset by delays. "To be behind schedule by four years after 10 years of effort shows just how troubled this project is," said Charles Seife, a professor at New York University who writes about nuclear fusion. Barabaschi said the "crisis" was now over and construction was proceeding at the fastest pace in ITER's history. The start-up phase of the project will begin in 2033, when it is scheduled to start generating plasma. He said ITER proved that countries could still cooperate despite geopolitical tensions. "They have a very, very strong cohesion of objectives and for the time being I see no sign of a withdrawal from anyone." Fusion investment has been growing, with dozens of initiatives currently underway. Several private start-ups have said they can build commercial fusion reactors within a decade. Barabaschi said he was sceptical but supportive of the dozens of ventures in development across the world. "We already know that we can get fusion," he said. "The question is, are we going to get fusion in such a way that it would be cost-effective? "I am quite sceptical that we will be able to achieve this within, say, one or even two decades. Frankly speaking, it will take more time." © Thomson Reuters 2025.
India Today
01-05-2025
- Science
- India Today
India ready to create artificial Sun as world's most powerful magnet comes to life
Scientists from 30 countries including India are ready to assemble the world's most powerful magnet to boost the development of the global nuclear fusion final component of the system - the central solenoid - had been completed and tested by the United States, and assembly was now International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, which has been delayed several times, aims to generate clean energy by smashing atoms together at super-high temperatures. The aerial video of the ITER facility. (Photo: ITER) advertisement Based in southern France and backed by the United States, China, Japan, Russia and the European Union, ITER needs magnetic power to create an invisible cage to confine super-hot plasma particles that combine and fuse to release energy."It is like the bottle in a bottle of wine: of course, the wine is maybe more important than the bottle, but you need the bottle in order to put the wine inside," said Pietro Barabaschi, ITER's director fusion is the process of combining two light atomic nuclei—typically isotopes of hydrogen-like deuterium and tritium—into a single heavier nucleus, releasing a tremendous amount of energy. This is the same process that powers the sun and other will use deuterium and tritium as fuel. These are heated to over 150 millionC—ten times hotter than the sun's core—to form a plasma. The ITER Tokamak will be the largest device of its kind in the world. (Photo: ITER) advertisementThe hot plasma is held in place inside a donut-shaped chamber called a tokamak using powerful superconducting magnets. This prevents the plasma from touching the walls and cooling down. Fusion Reaction: Inside the tokamak, high-speed collisions between nuclei result in fusion reactions, releasing high-energy magnet was originally scheduled for completion in 2021 but has been beset by delays. Barabaschi said the "crisis" was now over and construction was proceeding at the fastest pace in ITER's history. The start-up phase of the project will begin in 2033 when it is scheduled to start generating investment has been growing, with dozens of initiatives currently underway. Several private start-ups have said they can build commercial fusion reactors within a joined the project in 2005 and has been part of its construction. It contributes to the project through in-kind deliveries, scientific research, and financial Minister Narendra Modi, before concluding his trip to France in February this year, visited the ITER facility. He was joined by French President Emmanuel Macron on the visit as the two leaders met and interacted with scientists and engineers of the Watch
NDTV
01-05-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Global Nuclear Fusion Project Ready With World's Most Powerful Magnet
Singapore: A much-delayed nuclear fusion project involving more than 30 countries is ready to assemble the world's most powerful magnet - a key part of efforts to generate clean energy by smashing atoms together at super-high temperatures. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, based in southern France and backed by the United States, China, Japan, Russia and the European Union, needs the magnetic system to create an "invisible cage" to confine super-hot plasma particles that combine and fuse to release energy. ITER said late on Wednesday that the final component of the system - the central solenoid - had been completed and tested by the United States, and assembly was now underway. "It is like the bottle in a bottle of wine: of course the wine is maybe more important than the bottle, but you need the bottle in order to put the wine inside," said Pietro Barabaschi, ITER's director general. The magnet was originally scheduled for completion in 2021, but has been beset by delays. "To be behind schedule by four years after 10 years of effort shows just how troubled this project is," said Charles Seife, a professor at New York University who writes about nuclear fusion. Barabaschi said the "crisis" was now over and construction was proceeding at the fastest pace in ITER's history. The start-up phase of the project will begin in 2033, when it is scheduled to start generating plasma. He said ITER proved that countries could still cooperate despite geopolitical tensions. "They have a very, very strong cohesion of objectives and for the time being I see no sign of a withdrawal from anyone." Fusion investment has been growing, with dozens of initiatives currently underway. Several private start-ups have said they can build commercial fusion reactors within a decade. Barabaschi said he was sceptical but supportive of the dozens of ventures in development across the world. "We already know that we can get fusion," he said. "The question is, are we going to get fusion in such a way that it would be cost-effective? "I am quite sceptical that we will be able to achieve this within, say, one or even two decades. Frankly speaking, it will take more time."
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Global nuclear fusion project crosses milestone with world's most powerful magnet
Singapore: A much-delayed nuclear fusion project involving more than 30 countries is ready to assemble the world's most powerful magnet - a key part of efforts to generate clean energy by smashing atoms together at super-high temperatures. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, based in southern France and backed by the United States, China, Japan, Russia and the European Union, needs the magnetic system to create an "invisible cage" to confine super-hot plasma particles that combine and fuse to release energy. ITER said late on Wednesday that the final component of the system - the central solenoid - had been completed and tested by the United States, and assembly was now underway. "It is like the bottle in a bottle of wine: of course the wine is maybe more important than the bottle, but you need the bottle in order to put the wine inside," said Pietro Barabaschi, ITER's director general. The magnet was originally scheduled for completion in 2021, but has been beset by delays. "To be behind schedule by four years after 10 years of effort shows just how troubled this project is," said Charles Seife, a professor at New York University who writes about nuclear fusion. Barabaschi said the "crisis" was now over and construction was proceeding at the fastest pace in ITER's history. The start-up phase of the project will begin in 2033, when it is scheduled to start generating plasma. He said ITER proved that countries could still cooperate despite geopolitical tensions. "They have a very, very strong cohesion of objectives and for the time being I see no sign of a withdrawal from anyone." Fusion investment has been growing, with dozens of initiatives currently underway. Several private start-ups have said they can build commercial fusion reactors within a decade. Barabaschi said he was sceptical but supportive of the dozens of ventures in development across the world. "We already know that we can get fusion," he said. "The question is, are we going to get fusion in such a way that it would be cost-effective? "I am quite sceptical that we will be able to achieve this within, say, one or even two decades. Frankly speaking, it will take more time."
