Breakthrough in Fusion Energy: High-Temperature Superconducting Magnets Prove Their Mettle

March 11, 2024

The Dawn of Limitless Power: MIT's Fusion Magnet Hits World Record

In an unprecedented leap forward for fusion energy, engineers at MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center have achieved a historic milestone by developing a high-temperature superconducting magnet that meets the crucial 20 tesla magnetic field strength required for fusion power plants. This breakthrough not only confirms the viability of such magnets but also propels us toward a future of sustainable and limitless energy production. In collaboration with Commonwealth Fusion Systems, this achievement demonstrates the potential for economically viable fusion energy, heralding a new era in our approach to power generation.

Read the full story here: Tests show high-temperature superconducting magnets are ready for fusion

Highlights

• The achievement of a 20 tesla magnetic field strength represents a critical milestone for practical fusion power plants.
• The collaborative effort and meticulous testing of the magnet's components showcased the rigorous approach to innovation and problem-solving.
• The magnet's design, utilizing REBCO material and a no-insulation approach, demonstrates a radical rethink in superconducting magnet technology.
• This breakthrough reduces the projected cost and size of fusion reactors, potentially making fusion energy economically viable.
• Comprehensive data analysis confirms the magnet's performance and robustness, validating theoretical models and designs for next-generation fusion devices.

A momentous occasion unfolded at MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) where a new kind of magnet crafted from high-temperature superconducting material achieved a magnetic field strength of 20 tesla, a necessity for building fusion power plants. This groundbreaking test not only fulfilled all predefined criteria but also indicated a bright future for energy production, foreseeing a world powered by clean and inexhaustible fusion energy.

Over several months, the team rigorously inspected the magnet’s components and analyzed test data, while pushing the magnet to its breaking point in subsequent tests. These efforts culminated in a collection of six peer-reviewed papers detailing the magnet's design, function, and the insights gained. This pivotal research verified the magnet's innovative design and set a solid foundation for the development of future fusion power plants, marking a significant stride in fusion energy research spearheaded by both MIT and Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS).

The successful test and subsequent analysis represent not just a technological breakthrough but also a paradigm shift in how fusion energy could be harnessed, making it much more economically feasible. The use of REBCO material and the inception of no-insulation design in the superconducting magnets were pivotal. These outcomes have greatly enhanced the practicality and reduced the size and expense of constructing fusion reactors, aligning closely with predictions and modeling, hence boosting confidence in the direction of fusion research and development.

Read the full article here.

Essential Insights

• MIT's Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC): The site of a major breakthrough in superconducting magnet technology essential for fusion power.
• SPARC: A newly designed fusion device expected to produce net output power, using high-temperature superconducting magnets.
• Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS): MIT spinout company collaborating on the development and implementation of the breakthrough magnet technology.
• Hitachi America Professor of Engineering Dennis Whyte: Key figure in the achievement, emphasizing the breakthrough's role in potentially making fusion energy economically viable.
• REBCO (rare-earth barium copper oxide): The high-temperature superconducting material used in the breakthrough magnet, operating at significantly higher temperatures than previous materials.