Can you imagine a point where science and technology advance to such an extent that they can develop an artificial sun? Well, it is not necessary to imagine it, as it is very close to becoming a reality, thanks to nuclear fusion. The aim is to replace fission with fusion energy, as it is cleaner and does not produce long-term radioactive waste. The main issue lies in that the high temperatures required to operate the reactor cannot withstand radiation or extreme temperatures. This is the case with the plasma in tokamaks and the impossibility of it not touching the reactor walls.
However, MIT engineers may have found the solution in the helium created during fusion processes. The study led by Professor Ju Li has discovered that these helium bubbles can be reduced by half when combined with 1% iron silicate, resulting in a longer lifespan for the reactor. With this advancement, the United States could be very close to energy independence, betting on cleaner energy. The future of fusion particularly depends on the durability of the reactor walls, and partnerships such as those of ITER in France and other fusion startups are currently attracting all the attention.
Fusion Energy
The United States is working to develop its own artificial sun, an idea that arises from the need to utilize cleaner energies that help combat climate change. The significance of fusion lies in its ability to combine light elements into helium, without releasing greenhouse gases and generating clean energy. The main issue is the extremely high temperatures to which the materials must be subjected, approximately 150 million degrees Celsius. The plasma is contained within tokamaks; however, the challenge lies in stabilizing it so that it does not adversely affect the walls of the reactors.
What have the engineers from MIT discovered?
Professor Ju Li from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and her team may have found the solution to this problem. According to their study, they have been able to assert that the combination of ceramic nanoparticles in the iron walls of a reactor prevents helium atoms from causing issues. How did they accomplish this? They detected that helium was the culprit generating problems in the fusions, creating bubbles that disrupted the metal. Professor Li replaced the helium atoms with iron silicate. This ceramic compound is stronger and chemically more compatible. The test results determined that only 1% of iron is necessary to reduce helium bubble formation by half, thereby increasing the reactor’s lifespan.
Are fusion reactors closer to being a reality?
The fact is that Ju Li’s team is doing everything possible to develop commercial applications such as 3D printing. Support is expected for the fusion projects being carried out by the United States, especially from private companies that anticipate a launch date around 2030. Several partnerships within ITER and other startups based in the United States are conducting studies with significant and very interesting advancements.
All researchers in the field are clear about the primary objective: until the issue of the durability of reactor walls is resolved through materials compatible with plasma physics, the future of fusion will remain uncertain. However, the United States is optimistic and believes it will be the first on the path to developing an artificial sun that will generate clean and non-polluting energy.