Brief Context
In News Scientists have completed the main magnet system for ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), with India playing a significant role in building critical infrastructure. International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor(ITER) The International Thermo-nuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project is currently under construction in a 180-hectare site in Southern France. Over 30 countries, including India, China, the US, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the EU are collaborating t
Source Content
Syllabus :GS 3/Science and Tech
In News
- Scientists have completed the main magnet system for ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), with India playing a significant role in building critical infrastructure.
International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor(ITER)
- The International Thermo-nuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Project is currently under construction in a 180-hectare site in Southern France.
- Over 30 countries, including India, China, the US, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the EU are collaborating to build the world’s largest tokamak, a magnetic fusion device to prove the feasibility of nuclear fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy.
| Do you know? – Nuclear fusion generates energy through merging of two light nuclei to form a single heavier nucleus. Fusion reactions power the Sun and other stars. |
Objectives
- It aims to demonstrate fusion energy as a safe and carbon-free power source.
- Unlike fission, fusion does not produce radioactive waste.
- It will produce 500 megawatts of energy from 50 megawatts of input, creating a self-sustaining plasma state known as “burning plasma”, crucial for unlocking fusion energy.
- ITER will not produce electricity but will serve as a large research facility to test fusion at scale, generating data for future commercial fusion plants.
Cost Sharing
- Europe is bearing 45 per cent of the construction cost.
- The other six members — India, China, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the US — are each contributing about 9 per cent. But all members will get full access to the research results and patents.
Contributions by Countries
- US Built the Central Solenoid, the core component of the magnet system.
- Russia provided the Poloidal Field magnet.
- Europe designed four large Poloidal Field magnets.
- China contributed Poloidal Field magnets and superconducting Correction Coil magnets.
- Japan produced 43 kilometers of Nb3Sn superconductor strand.
- Korea created tooling for pre-assembling large components.
India’s Role
- India is one of the seven main members of ITER and has contributed to key infrastructure, including the cryostat cooling systems, heating technologies, and the cryolines that cool the magnets.
- India designed the cryostat, a 30-meter tall chamber housing the ITER Tokamak, and built systems to cool the magnets to superconducting temperatures of -269°C.
- India also delivered shielding, cooling water systems, and heating components.
Progress
- ITER completed its powerful pulsed superconducting electromagnet system, a crucial part of the Tokamak, which will weigh nearly 3,000 tonnes.
- The system will help create a plasma by ionizing hydrogen fuel (deuterium and tritium), which will then be heated to 150 million degrees Celsius to facilitate nuclear fusion, similar to the Sun’s process.
Future Outlook
- ITER’s progress reflects international cooperation and hope for a sustainable, peaceful energy future.
- ITER is expected to begin scientific operations in 2034, with Deuterium-Tritium operations starting in 2039.
- If successful, fusion could provide nearly limitless, clean energy without radioactive waste or carbon emissions, addressing global energy challenges.
Source :TH