How China’s leading the world in nuclear fusion research

[onebyone]

But the Chinese government might have other considerations. While budget estimates for the CFETR project have not been publicly released, a fusion reactor is likely to cost much more than a commercial fission reactor, and many technological hurdles remain unsolved.

The recent EAST experiment, for instance, had to be terminated because the researchers were afraid that letting it run for longer might damage the facility beyond repair.

China has also embarked on the world’s most ambitious conventional nuclear power plant construction programme and that heavy investment might leave less funding available for large, experimental projects like CFETR.

How China hopes to solve nuclear waste issue with hybrid fusion-fission reactor at top secret facility

Then there’s also the question of whether large, government-funded fusion projects will be able to reach the stage of commercialisation faster than smaller projects carried out by private companies funded by venture capital. In recent years, several start-ups have been established in the US to approach fusion with technology different from the donut-shaped tokamak, an old design proposed by former Soviet scientists more than 50 years ago.

But some scientists from private companies overseas are also working in Chinese facilities. Wan told the conference in Kyoto that the CFETR project had participants from General Atomics, a defence contractor headquartered in San Diego, California, that specialises in nuclear physics, as well as others from the US Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

“I have a dream, to see a light bulb lit by the power of fusion within my lifetime,” Li Jiangang, a leading Chinese fusion scientist, said in a programme on China Central Television in April. “This light bulb will be, and has to be, in China.”

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/2044428/how-chinas-leading-world-nuclear-fusion-research

 

[C130]

nuclear fusion is 50+ years away, but the Chinese people are patient.

 

[Shotgunner51]

China acknowledged as global leader in the field and world’s only nation increasing funding into research to draw energy from ‘artificial sun’

Good!

 

[GS Zhou]

China's target is to have the first fusion reactor ready for commercial purpose by 2050. Less than 40years from now!!

 

[beijingwalker]

Artificial sun: China makes breakthrough in nuclear fusion development

 

[khansaheeb]

wow , that is incredible, but can't put it past the Chinese to achieve it. As long as they can control it that is great else we may may have a big problem on our hand.

 

[denel]

This is tokomak, there is nothing new here; most likely just managing to keep the plasma for a few minutes.

 

[cirr]

Another major breakthrough in nuclear fusion development

Core technology leading to a bright future @TaiShang

http://news.sina.cn/2016-12-12/detail-ifxypizk0297457.d.html

近日，由中核集团西南物理研究院自主研发制造的国际热核聚变核心部件——超热负荷第一壁原型件在国际上率先通过权威机构认证，这是我国对国际热核聚变项目的重大贡献。西南物理研究院完成该部件的自主研发制造工作，将对未来自主建造聚变堆，有很大的促进作用。　　　　国际热核聚变实验堆计划，英文简称ITER，是目前全球规模最大、影响最深远的国际科研合作项目之一。目的就是实现的可以控制的核聚变反应。由于其产生能量的原理和太阳发光发热的机理相似，因此也有了“人造太阳”的美名，而要构建起这个“人造太阳”的核心，这就需要特殊的材料筑起一道“防火墙”，抵御核心的高温环境。 　　在整个国际热核聚变实验堆计划中，有多个国家在研制这样的高温核心材料，而中国科学家承担的研制的材料，处于反应堆最核心位置，直接面对高温聚变物质，因而被成为反应堆的“第一壁”，ITER的设计方案要求，第一壁要承受每平米4.7兆瓦的热量，这几乎可以瞬间将一公斤的钢铁融化。

http://m.hexun.com/tech/2016-11-08/186792057.html

中方ITER第一壁(First Wall)半原型件率先通过高热负荷测试

中方第一壁（First Wall）半原型件近日通过了高热负荷测试，测试结果符合ITER组织认证要求，实现该类部件在世界范围内率先通过高热负荷测试。
　　
中方第一壁半原型件包含六根手指组成的3个手指对，手指对结构尺寸与正式产品一致。中方于2016年5月成功制作该第一壁半原型件，按要求送往俄罗斯Efremov研究所进行了表面热负荷为4.7 MW/m2（满载）和5.9 MW/m2（过载）的高热负荷疲劳试验，分别达到7500次和1500次热循环。试验于8月8日完成，取得圆满成功，部件外观完好，无不可接受的过热和温升现象，满足ITER要求，标志着中方具备了签署ITER第一壁采购安排协议的技术条件。
　　
第一壁是ITER装置的核心部件，位于环形真空室内部，在运行时直接面对上亿摄氏度的等离子体，保护外围部件和设备免受高热流和高能粒子流的冲击。根据表面所受热负荷水平的不同，ITER第一壁分为普通热负荷型和增强热负荷型两类。中、俄、欧三方承担了ITER第一壁的制造任务，其中我国承担约10%的生产制造任务，为增强热负荷型部件，已率先通过了半原型件的满载及过载高热负荷测试；俄罗斯承担约40%的制造任务，为增强热负荷型部件，尚未通过半原型件的高热负荷测试，正在改进和分析其产品；欧盟承担约50%的制造任务，为普通热负荷型部件，所承受热负荷仅为2 MW/m2。
　　
我国于2004年开始ITER第一壁设计研发工作，2010年我国第一壁材料连接技术通过ITER组织认证，国产高纯度铍于年底通过ITER组织认证，结束了我国无高纯度铍的历史。我国于2013年8月成功制作增强热负荷型第一壁小模块并通过高热负荷试验认证，2014年7月完成小模块制作技术的优化，技术优化后所制小模块在高热负荷测试中经受住了16000次热疲劳试验，高于ITER第一壁的设计寿命（15000次）。此次半原型件高热负荷测试的成功，标志着我国在规模化制作ITER第一壁技术上又迈进了一大步，并为我国自主建造聚变堆提供了坚实的技术储备。

@Bussard Ramjet Time for our Indian friends to bow in worship

 

[TaiShang]

Another major breakthrough in nuclear fusion development

Core technology leading to a bright future @TaiShang

http://news.sina.cn/2016-12-12/detail-ifxypizk0297457.d.html

近日，由中核集团西南物理研究院自主研发制造的国际热核聚变核心部件——超热负荷第一壁原型件在国际上率先通过权威机构认证，这是我国对国际热核聚变项目的重大贡献。西南物理研究院完成该部件的自主研发制造工作，将对未来自主建造聚变堆，有很大的促进作用。　　　　国际热核聚变实验堆计划，英文简称ITER，是目前全球规模最大、影响最深远的国际科研合作项目之一。目的就是实现的可以控制的核聚变反应。由于其产生能量的原理和太阳发光发热的机理相似，因此也有了“人造太阳”的美名，而要构建起这个“人造太阳”的核心，这就需要特殊的材料筑起一道“防火墙”，抵御核心的高温环境。 　　在整个国际热核聚变实验堆计划中，有多个国家在研制这样的高温核心材料，而中国科学家承担的研制的材料，处于反应堆最核心位置，直接面对高温聚变物质，因而被成为反应堆的“第一壁”，ITER的设计方案要求，第一壁要承受每平米4.7兆瓦的热量，这几乎可以瞬间将一公斤的钢铁融化。

http://m.hexun.com/tech/2016-11-08/186792057.html

中方ITER第一壁(First Wall)半原型件率先通过高热负荷测试

中方第一壁（First Wall）半原型件近日通过了高热负荷测试，测试结果符合ITER组织认证要求，实现该类部件在世界范围内率先通过高热负荷测试。
　　
中方第一壁半原型件包含六根手指组成的3个手指对，手指对结构尺寸与正式产品一致。中方于2016年5月成功制作该第一壁半原型件，按要求送往俄罗斯Efremov研究所进行了表面热负荷为4.7 MW/m2（满载）和5.9 MW/m2（过载）的高热负荷疲劳试验，分别达到7500次和1500次热循环。试验于8月8日完成，取得圆满成功，部件外观完好，无不可接受的过热和温升现象，满足ITER要求，标志着中方具备了签署ITER第一壁采购安排协议的技术条件。
　　
第一壁是ITER装置的核心部件，位于环形真空室内部，在运行时直接面对上亿摄氏度的等离子体，保护外围部件和设备免受高热流和高能粒子流的冲击。根据表面所受热负荷水平的不同，ITER第一壁分为普通热负荷型和增强热负荷型两类。中、俄、欧三方承担了ITER第一壁的制造任务，其中我国承担约10%的生产制造任务，为增强热负荷型部件，已率先通过了半原型件的满载及过载高热负荷测试；俄罗斯承担约40%的制造任务，为增强热负荷型部件，尚未通过半原型件的高热负荷测试，正在改进和分析其产品；欧盟承担约50%的制造任务，为普通热负荷型部件，所承受热负荷仅为2 MW/m2。
　　
我国于2004年开始ITER第一壁设计研发工作，2010年我国第一壁材料连接技术通过ITER组织认证，国产高纯度铍于年底通过ITER组织认证，结束了我国无高纯度铍的历史。我国于2013年8月成功制作增强热负荷型第一壁小模块并通过高热负荷试验认证，2014年7月完成小模块制作技术的优化，技术优化后所制小模块在高热负荷测试中经受住了16000次热疲劳试验，高于ITER第一壁的设计寿命（15000次）。此次半原型件高热负荷测试的成功，标志着我国在规模化制作ITER第一壁技术上又迈进了一大步，并为我国自主建造聚变堆提供了坚实的技术储备。

@Bussard Ramjet Time for our Indian friends to bow in worship

Go easy on the super power, bro.

On topic: It is also great to see China is cooperating with Russia on this critical frontier technology.

 

[cirr]

Go easy on the super power, bro.

On topic: It is also great to see China is cooperating with Russia on this critical frontier technology.

I can't over-emphasize the significance of this breakthrough

Surface thermal loads of 4.7 MW/m2(full load) and 5.9 MW/m2(overload) = My Goodness!

http://www.swip.ac.cn/news/detail.asp?id=2028

 

[Jugger]

Congratulations to China for this technological breakthrough
Hope they progress further and give me free electricity for life.

 

[cirr]

China Claims Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough, No Specifics

ANDREW FOLLETT

Energy and Science Reporter

12/12/2016

Atom molecule in female hand (Shutterstock/ Sergey Nivens)


China’s state-controlled TV station claimed Sunday scientists made a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion research.

Chinese researchers claim to have independently invented components to keep ionized gas burning steadily for twice the length of the previous record — an important step forward toward nuclear fusion, if true.

The country allegedly created a component for a fusion reactor core that can withstand extremely high heat.

“The component we invented is one of the first of its kind in the world that has passed the international cyclic heat test,” Cheng Jiming of China National Nuclear Corporation told CCTV. “It really means a lot — it’s a great contribution to the international field of thermonuclear experimental reactors.”

CCTV wasn’t clear about what kind of breakthrough allegedly occurred, other than to say China is “leaving other nations in the dust” and will pour more money into fusion research.

China’s component is supposed to be installed on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France. China provides about 10 percent of the financial support for ITER and has scientists directly involved in the project. It claims the new component is about 20 percent more heat-resistant than the reactor’s design requires.

ITER was originally expected to cost approximately $5.7 billion. Cost overruns, design changes and rising raw material prices saw the amount almost triple to $ 14.9 billion. The project could end up costing $20 billion.

Scientists in Germany found fusion reactors are feasible earlier this month by determining that an experimental reactor was generating the right kind of magnetic field to trap plasma for long enough for nuclear fusion to occur.

German engineers from the Max Planck Institute successfully activated the experimental nuclear fusion reactor used in the research last December and managed to suspend plasma for the first time. The reactor took 19 years and $1.1 billion to build and contains over 470 tons of superconducting magnets, all of which need to be cooled to absolute zero.

Nuclear fusion is different from conventional nuclear reactors, as fusion causes atoms to join at extremely high temperatures and release huge amounts of energy. The process would generate essentially no hazardous waste and wouldn’t require hazardous fuel.

Operational fusion power would put most other forms of electricity generation permanently out of business and could occur very soon. Fusion power could be “too cheap to meter,” meaning that the cost of generating new power would be below the cost of determining how much power an individual was using, effectively making electricity generation free.

Other recent breakthroughs in fusion could restart the atomic age, an era when nuclear progress was lauded as a pinnacle of human achievement.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is developing a compact fusion reactor small enough to fit in a truck and would generate enough electricity to power 80,000 homes.

An American research team in January discovered a way to initiate nuclear fusion reactions in a process called “fast ignition” using a high-intensity laser, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Scientists believe that “fast ignition” could allow a fusion reaction to be controlled, because it requires less “start-up” energy than other methods.


Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2016/12/12/c...sion-breakthrough-no-specifics/#ixzz4TiugUXKs

 

[TaiShang]

China Claims Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough, No Specifics

ANDREW FOLLETT

Energy and Science Reporter

12/12/2016

Atom molecule in female hand (Shutterstock/ Sergey Nivens)


China’s state-controlled TV station claimed Sunday scientists made a major breakthrough in nuclear fusion research.

Chinese researchers claim to have independently invented components to keep ionized gas burning steadily for twice the length of the previous record — an important step forward toward nuclear fusion, if true.

The country allegedly created a component for a fusion reactor core that can withstand extremely high heat.

“The component we invented is one of the first of its kind in the world that has passed the international cyclic heat test,” Cheng Jiming of China National Nuclear Corporation told CCTV. “It really means a lot — it’s a great contribution to the international field of thermonuclear experimental reactors.”

CCTV wasn’t clear about what kind of breakthrough allegedly occurred, other than to say China is “leaving other nations in the dust” and will pour more money into fusion research.

China’s component is supposed to be installed on the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France. China provides about 10 percent of the financial support for ITER and has scientists directly involved in the project. It claims the new component is about 20 percent more heat-resistant than the reactor’s design requires.

ITER was originally expected to cost approximately $5.7 billion. Cost overruns, design changes and rising raw material prices saw the amount almost triple to $ 14.9 billion. The project could end up costing $20 billion.

Scientists in Germany found fusion reactors are feasible earlier this month by determining that an experimental reactor was generating the right kind of magnetic field to trap plasma for long enough for nuclear fusion to occur.

German engineers from the Max Planck Institute successfully activated the experimental nuclear fusion reactor used in the research last December and managed to suspend plasma for the first time. The reactor took 19 years and $1.1 billion to build and contains over 470 tons of superconducting magnets, all of which need to be cooled to absolute zero.

Nuclear fusion is different from conventional nuclear reactors, as fusion causes atoms to join at extremely high temperatures and release huge amounts of energy. The process would generate essentially no hazardous waste and wouldn’t require hazardous fuel.

Operational fusion power would put most other forms of electricity generation permanently out of business and could occur very soon. Fusion power could be “too cheap to meter,” meaning that the cost of generating new power would be below the cost of determining how much power an individual was using, effectively making electricity generation free.

Other recent breakthroughs in fusion could restart the atomic age, an era when nuclear progress was lauded as a pinnacle of human achievement.

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works is developing a compact fusion reactor small enough to fit in a truck and would generate enough electricity to power 80,000 homes.

An American research team in January discovered a way to initiate nuclear fusion reactions in a process called “fast ignition” using a high-intensity laser, according to the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Scientists believe that “fast ignition” could allow a fusion reaction to be controlled, because it requires less “start-up” energy than other methods.


Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2016/12/12/c...sion-breakthrough-no-specifics/#ixzz4TiugUXKs

One step closer to clean, endless energy?

Thinking about the Malacca Dilemma

 

[JSCh]

14 Nov, 2016
Chinese prototype "fingers" pass high heat flux tests
-ITER China

Beryllium-tiled "fingers" from China—part of a semi-prototype of the ITER blanket first wall—have performed successfully under high heat flux testing at a dedicated facility in Russia. The test results confirm that the joining technique chosen for beryllium to copper bonding (i.e., hot isostatic pressing) has been shown to meet all ITER requirements.

​

A Chinese Domestic Agency first wall ''finger pair.'' The first wall semi-prototype is composed of three such pairs, whose structure and dimensions are fully representative of those used in the design of the ITER blanket first wall panel. Three pairs were used for the screening test, of which two were then used for the thermal fatigue test.

In ITER, 440 blanket modules will completely cover the inner walls of the vacuum vessel to shield its steel structure and protect other components from thermal and high-energy particle fluxes. Front-facing elements, called first wall panels, will take the brunt of the heat. Two different first wall panel designs are being pursued based on the incident heat flux—a normal heat flux first wall panel option (designed for 2 MW/m2) and an enhanced heat flux first wall panel option (designed for 4.7 MW/m2). A stainless steel beam (not shown in the picture) provides the structural base of each panel, upon which are attached plasma facing fingers. These fingers consist of 8-to-10-millimetre-thick beryllium armour tiles, bonded to a copper alloy heat sink, and attached to a stainless steel structural element.

China and Russia are sharing the procurement of the enhanced heat flux panels, while Europe is procuring the normal heat flux panels.

As part of the semi-prototype qualification program in China for its share of the enhanced heat flux first wall panels, pairs of "fingers" have undergone testing at the dedicated high heat flux test facility at the Efremov Institute in Saint Petersburg, Russia. They performed successfully at up to 4.7 MW/m2 for 7500 cycles and 5.9 MW/m2 for 1500 cycles. Neither unacceptable overheating nor temperature jump was observed during the test, and the appearance of the first wall fingers showed no significant alteration.

As per ITER technical requirements, the high heat flux testing was performed on actively cooled mockups of semi-prototypes. A screening test was carried out on three finger pairs at the start of the tests, during which the thermal load on the first wall surface was increased from 1 MW/m2 to 4.7 MW/m2 with steps of 1 MW/m2. Each increase in thermal load was made only after the finger pairs had reached temperature equilibrium. No anomaly was observed during the screening test.

A thermal fatigue test was then performed on two of these finger pairs over 7500 cycles at 4.7 MW/m2 and 1500 cycles at 5.9 MW/m2, each cycle consisting of 15 seconds of heating and 15 seconds of cooling. No unacceptable overheating of the two finger pairs was observed. Subsequent ultrasonic test results did not show defects on the beryllium to copper bonding, and there was no impact on the function and lifetime of the finger pairs. For the 5.9 MW/m2 test, a couple of hot spots were found that were within the boundaries of acceptability.

The Chinese Domestic Agency began its R&D effort on ITER enhanced heat flux first wall panels in 2004. The work (performed by the Southwestern Institute of Physics, SWIP) has progressed successfully as illustrated by the following achieved milestones: manufacture of high-purity beryllium, 2011; manufacture of small enhanced heat flux first wall mockups that passed high heat flux testing, 2013; optimization of mockups (including increasing the thickness of the beryllium tiles from 6 mm to 8 mm and successful thermal fatigue testing at 4.7MW/m2 over 16,000 cycles), July 2014.

These successful results open the way for the signature of the Procurement Arrangement, which is the precursor to series manufacturing.



Source: https://www.iter.org/newsline/-/2578

 

[JSCh]

21 Nov, 2016
China signs final Procurement Arrangement

An important milestone was celebrated on the margins of the ITER Council last week when the head of ITER China, Luo Delong, and ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot signed the Blanket First Wall Procurement Arrangement on 16 November. This was the last remaining Procurement Arrangement scheduled for signature by the Chinese Domestic Agency in the context of its "in-kind" procurement commitments to the project.

The head of the Chinese Domestic Agency, Luo Delong, and ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot sign the Blanket First Wall Procurement Arrangment on 16 November. China has now signed Procurement Arrangements for all of its ''in-kind'' scope.

Since the first Procurement Arrangement signed by China in June 2008 for toroidal field magnet conductors, the Chinese Domestic Agency has signed a total of 14 Procurement Arrangements plus four Complementary Diagnostic Arrangements. Every Procurement Arrangement represents the transfer of a specific scope of work from the ITER Organization to an ITER Domestic Agency.

"This achievement represents the culmination of an intense, dedicated effort in China aimed at developing the required high heat flux technology, which was successfully completed with the testing of prototypes under loading conditions above the ITER requirements," said Mario Merola, head of the Internal Components Division at ITER. Rene Raffray, Blanket Section leader, added: "We have established a strong and productive collaborative effort with our Chinese colleagues during the design and qualification phase and I look forward to continuing this collaboration during the forthcoming procurement phase."

The Procurement Arrangement concerns enhanced heat flux blanket first wall panels located in the inboard equatorial region of the vacuum chamber. Other enhanced heat flux first wall panels will be supplied by Russia (Procurement Arrangement signed in 2014), while Europe is procuring the normal heat flux panels (Procurement Arrangement planned next year).

The blanket first wall—being the primary interface to the plasma—absorbs radiation and particle heat fluxes from the plasma; it also provides a plasma-facing surface compatible with plasma performance requirements and a limiting surface that defines the plasma boundary during plasma start-up/ramp-down. To fulfil its function, the first wall panels are armoured with beryllium and designed to accommodate high surface heat fluxes (up to 4.7 MW/m2). The panels are actively cooled by pressurized water. Included in the scope of the Procurement Arrangement are the related central bolt assemblies (to mount the panels onto the shield blocks), pads (to react the electromagnetic loads), electrical strap assemblies (to route the eddy and halo currents to the shield blocks) as well as the water connection pipes to the shield blocks.

Kun Wang, the Chinese Domestic Agency Responsible Officer for this Procurement Arrangement welcomed last week's signature milestone, declaring: "More than 10 years of effort have now culminated with this Procurement Arrangement signature and it is such an exciting moment! We are entering a new phase for the blanket first wall procurement and, together with our ITER Organization colleagues, I look forward to further collaboration."

The next step in the procurement process will be for Liman Bao, the ITER Organization technical responsible officer for this Procurement Arrangement, to kick off the procurement activities. To this aim, an in-person meeting has already been scheduled in December between the Chinese Domestic Agency and the ITER Organization.


Source: https://www.iter.org/newsline/-/2585