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Published
November 15, 2018 06:20:54
Chinese nuclear scientists have reached a milestone in the global quest to harness the energy of nuclear fusion, a process that occurs naturally in the sun.
- The "artificial sun" is designed to reproduce the melting process that occurs in the sun.
- Matthew Matthew said the result is significant for the science of fusion in the world.
- Fusion is considered a solution to energy problems. it is clean, durable and powerful
The team of scientists from the Chinese Institute of Plasma Physics announced this week that the plasma of their advanced experimental superconducting Tokamak (EAST) – dubbed the "artificial sun "- had reached 100 million degrees Celsius. temperature needed to maintain a fusion reaction producing more power than it needs to work.
To put this into perspective, the temperature in the heart of the sun is expected to reach about 15 million degrees Celsius, making the plasma of the "artificial sun" Chinese more than six times hotter than the temperature of the sun. original.
The news comes after China shocked the scientific community last month with plans to launch an "artificial moon". Bright enough to replace street lamps by 2020.
Matthew Hole, badociate professor at the School of Research in Physics and Engineering at the Australian National University, said this feat constituted a milestone important for the science of nuclear fusion. [19659010] "This is certainly a milestone for China's nuclear fusion program and an important development for the whole world," said Dr. Hole at the 39th. ABC, adding that the development of fusion reactors could be the solution to global energy problems.
"The advantage is simple in that it is a very large basic production [continuous] with no greenhouse gas emissions and no long-lived radioactive waste.
"It provides a miracle energy solution … provided that it can be controlled." 19659018] He added that nuclear fusion reactors also avoid the risks badociated with currently used fission reactors, which can be adapted to dangerous weapons and are subject to possible catastrophic collapses.
The news has become viral on Chinese social media, with most users excited about the exploit.
"There is nothing that China can not "
Another proclaimed that" if the technology is put into operation, the world will no longer be worried about the energy crisis. "
How did China manage to get out?"
While current nuclear power plants rely on nuclear fission – a chain reaction in which uranium atoms are split to release energy – nuclear fusion does the opposite by forcing fusion.
One way to succeed on Earth is to use a so-called tokamak, a device designed to replicate the nuclear fusion process that occurs naturally in the sun and stars to generate energy. .
EAST, which has removed 100 million people The feat in degrees Celsius is 11 meters high, has a diameter of eight meters and weighs about 360 kilograms.
It uses a donut-shaped ring to house the heavy and super heavy isotopes – the atomic variations – of the atom. hydrogen called deuterium and tritium. are heated by powerful electric currents inside the tokamak, tearing the electrons out of their atoms and forming a plasma charged with hydrogen ions.
Powerful magnets lining the inner walls of EAST then contain the plasma in a tiny area to maximize the chances that the ions will fuse together.
When the ions fuse, they release a large amount of energy, which can then be exploited to run a power plant and produce electricity.
The Chinese research team said they were able to achieve the record. the use of various new heating and plasma control techniques, but could only maintain the state for about 10 seconds.
The latest technological advance has allowed According to the Institute of Plasma Physics of China, the 100 million degree bar is possible.
Nuclear fusion is a global mission, but not in Australia
M. Hole said that the energy potential of nuclear fusion as a source of clean energy has attracted significant investment from countries around the world. – including China – Australia is lagging behind.
"As a country, Australia is on the verge of losing its fusion capabilities," said Dr. Hole, adding that many of his colleagues had changed jobs or were looking for work at home. overseas lack of investment in the science of fusion.
"Australia used to invest well in this space, but it has really been neglected in recent years."
He stated that the results obtained by EAST would be important for the development of the region. The next major experiment in the science of nuclear fusion in the world is the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER).
ITER is currently under construction in the south of France with the collaboration of 35 countries, including China. consistently produce a net energy, producing 500 megawatts of clean and sustainable energy.
EAST being designed in the same way as ITER, it is however likely to constitute an important test device during the development of ITER. Chinese Institute of Plasma Physics.
ITER should be ready to create its first plasma and start operating in 2025.
Topics:
nuclear energy,
alternative energy,
science and technology,
physics,
China,
Asia
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