U.S. laboratory's deep fueling pellet injector contributes to a new record in nuclear fusion
Headline: International Team Achieves Unprecedented Fusion Breakthrough at Wendelstein 7-X
A significant advancement in fusion energy research has been made at the Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator in Greifswald, Germany. Scientists from around the world have successfully sustained a high-performance plasma for an unprecedented 43 seconds, setting a new world record.
The key to this achievement was a high-speed injection system developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). The ORNL-designed Continuous Pellet Fueling System injects a high-speed stream of solid hydrogen pellets into the plasma core of the W7-X device. The hydrogen pellets are accelerated using a high-pressure pulse of helium gas.
This method of deep fueling raises the plasma's core density compared to puffing gas from the vessel's edge. The increased density profile also improves energy confinement for the stellarator, which uses complex, three-dimensional magnetic fields to contain the plasma.
The W7-X device uses a type of fusion device that confines plasma in a donut-shaped chamber using twisted magnetic fields. This design is being studied as a potential candidate for a future fusion power plant.
The fusion "triple product," a primary metric for fusion experiments, combines three variables: the plasma's ion temperature, its density, and its energy confinement time. The recent experiment has provided valuable data for validating the stellarator concept.
Dr. Greg D. Tynan, who works on the development of the Continuous Pellet Fueling System for Wendelstein 7-X at ORNL, led the development of the novel fuel pellet injector. This injector enabled the record-breaking fusion energy experiment.
The Wendelstein 7-X, the world's largest stellarator-type fusion device, has previously demonstrated its ability to generate plasmas at the extreme temperatures required for fusion. This result represents a notable advance in fusion energy research, where a key objective is to sustain the conditions necessary for a net energy gain.
Prof. Dr. Thomas Klinger, Head of Operations at Wendelstein 7-X, hailed the new record as a tremendous achievement by the international team. The results are expected to pave the way for further advancements in fusion energy research.
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