© Helical FusionThe construction cost of the first-of-its-kind (FOAK) power plant is estimated to be around USD 5 billion. (Representational image)
A startup is aiming to transform power generation with a cleaner method that could offer limitless energy. Helical Fusion plans to launch a steady-state fusion reactor that would be the first of its kind worldwide.
The Tokyo-based company intends to initially develop a pilot reactor based on the helical method, a magnetic confinement technique. The reactor is projected to have an initial power generation capacity of 50-100 megawatts.
The reactor could be a kind of stellarator called a heliotron, composed of two continuous helical coils, similar to the Large Helical Device, and could operate without plasma current. The company also has plans to commercialize the power once the reactor is successfully developed.
Commercial helical fusion reactor development for base load electric power
"We intend to have the world's very first steady-state combination reactor up and creating electrical power within the next 10 years," Helical Blend CEO Takaya Taguchi told Reuters.
The small-output fusion reactor has potential applications as a localized power source for factories like aluminum or titanium smelters, remote islands, or large ships.
The construction cost of the first-of-its-kind (FOAK) power plant is estimated to be around USD 5 billion. After more than one year of continuous operation, maintenance could be completed within three months to achieve a high availability rate of more than 80%.
The fusion reaction of hydrogen isotopes (like deuterium and tritium) using 1 gram (equivalent to 5 balloons) produces the same energy as burning 8 tons of oil (equivalent to 50 drums), according to Helical Fusion.
Established in 2021, Helical Fusion aims to successfully implement a commercial helical fusion reactor for base load electric power to society.
HESTIA expected to play the role of the fusion pilot plant
HESTIA, a deuterium-tritium fusion reactor where tritium is self-produced using liquid metal blanket systems, is expected to play the role of the company's fusion pilot plant.
The first-of-a-kind fusion power plant that would follow HESTIA and will be a 100 MWe-class steady-state helical fusion reactor, according to Helical Fusion.
Electron cyclotron heating is adopted for plasma heating. Since plasma current drive is not required, HESTIA can be operated at a low fusion gain of ∼13, and steady-state operation is principally possible on the order of a year. After a few years of individual development phases, a prototype device is planned to be constructed and operated for the integrated demonstration before starting the construction of HESTIA.
"If we run the pilot reactor starting in 2034 for a few years ... we could begin constructing a commercial reactor and have it functional in around 2040 at the earliest," added Taguchi.
However, he mentioned certain challenges in the execution of the plan. It includes difficulties in raising 1 trillion yen to build the pilot reactor, establishing high-temperature superconductivity technology for coils, and establishing security rules to get local construction approval, according to Reuters.
In a helical fusion reactor, the magnetic field (magnetic field lines) necessary for plasma confinement is stably created only by electromagnetic coils. This allows for stable plasma confinement over extended periods and constant energy output, making it suitable for power generation.
Reader Comments
I digress.
Cause you know they haven't figured out how the Sun gets its fission power - or they rely on other simpler technology to achieve this - and all of that speaks to pollution upon planet earth - time and time again.
really - energy is easy - why not release the patents of Tesla?
They'd generate more electricity actually burning the billions they are going to spend.
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So they deserve the chance to melt the whole place down.
Why not
What I don't understand is why power plants don't produce more power using "transformer action." Transformer action is the phenomena of a secondary coil producing electricity from the magnetic field of the primary coil. I was taught in military electronics that the current produced in the secondary coil.DOESN'T draw power from the primary coil. Conceivably, secondaries could be configured in concentric circles around a "bullseye" primary. The output of the secondaries would only be limited by their distances from the primary. Perhaps, we have an electrical engineer among us who can comment on this.
One benefit of Thorium, rumor has it, is it does not involve plutonium or other elements lends themselves towards others usages military wise - but tis just a rumor.
With that said - I doubt viability of any "clean" fusion reactor and really - that is well founded doubt.
The only place to get fusion going beneficially is already in existence - it is the sun about 93 million miles away for good reason.
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The us of a once again is behind the times.
At least not NOW - and not with more energy put into making it happen then what can be extracted - cause the energy of the sun cannot be easily replicated on planet earth.
Fission can be - but oh - it is so "dirty" and fraught with risk of great harm.
Edit - that last link was bs trying to stifle communication - so I guess have to put up a wiki link instead:
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Fusion apparently happens on the sun which is far away from Planet Earth for good reason!
I mean think about all the elements that form via fusion in the sun.
Peace to you!
Ken
Ken
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Chornobyle, 2 days ago
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