ITER Tokamak Schematic. Credit: ITER Organization
A Giant Leap in Fusion Energy
In a remarkable stride toward sustainable energy, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project has completed the final component of its central solenoid—the world’s most powerful pulsed superconducting magnet. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the quest to harness fusion energy, the same process that powers our sun.
The Heart of the Tokamak
At the core of ITER’s tokamak—a doughnut-shaped fusion reactor—lies the central solenoid. Standing 18 meters tall and weighing approximately 1,000 tons, this magnet is designed to generate a magnetic field strong enough to confine plasma at temperatures reaching 150 million degrees Celsius, ten times hotter than the sun’s core. The central solenoid’s magnetic force is so immense that it could lift an aircraft carrier two meters into the air .
Installation of the first superconducting magnet, Poloidal Field Coil #6, in the tokamak pit at the ITER construction site. The Central Solenoid will be mounted in the center after the vacuum vessel has been assembled. Credit: ITER
Engineering Marvel
The construction of the central solenoid involved the production of 43 kilometers of niobium-tin superconducting wire, manufactured across nine factories in six countries . This international collaboration underscores the global commitment to advancing fusion energy technology. Dailyscitech
A Collaborative Effort
ITER represents a monumental collaboration among 35 nations, including the USA, Russia, China, the European Union, India, Japan, and South Korea . The project’s goal is to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy, with the potential to generate 500 megawatts of power from just 50 megawatts of input. Dailyscitech
The Road Ahead
While the completion of the central solenoid is a significant achievement, ITER’s journey is far from over. The reactor is not expected to be fully operational until 2039 . Nevertheless, each milestone brings us closer to a future where clean, virtually limitless energy is a reality. Dailyscitech
Curious about the future of fusion energy?
How will the successful operation of ITER transform our approach to sustainable power? Stay tuned to DailySciTech.com for the latest updates on this groundbreaking project. Dailyscitech
