Synthesis of nuclei with a distorted machine

German scientists are trying to perform nuclear fusion (thermonuclear reactions, which normally occur in the Sun) to create a stable source of energy.

At first glance, the German scientists' equipment is like a block of steel falling from the sky with a distorted appearance. Its design has no straight or symmetrical shape.

But in fact, it is part of the Wendelstein 7-X reactor, located in Greifswald, Germany.

Between devices are large metal pipes with a diameter of 2m. They will be bent and shaped with millimeter precision.

According to technical supervision of construction of Wendelstein 7-X furnace, Lutz Wegener, metal pipes play a decisive role in nuclear fusion reaction.

Each magnetic coil will produce a magnetic field and when all coils are placed together, they will produce a tube from three dimensions. This magnetic tube will keep the hot synthetic plasma inside.

The machine is designed and manufactured with millimeter precision.

Plasma requires optimal conditions

The fuel of nuclear synthesis is plasma, created when a layer of hydrogen gas with ultra-thin mixture is affected by high pressure and high thermal energy.

Hydrogen neutrons will transform and become charged particles. This process occurs on the sun and is the source of its energy.

According to Professor Robert Wolf, who oversees the Wendelstein 7-X reactor, the principle of making plasma is quite simple: When the material is heated, it will move from solid to liquid, if more heat is supplied, it will transition from liquid to gas and add more heat to plasma.

Manufacture of tubes containing plasma in Greifswald.

The process is carried out with two isotopes of hydrogen - deuterium and tritium - which will produce helium and free neutrons.

Unlike normal neutrons, free neutrons carry electric charge and this energy can be converted into electricity.

One advantage in the reaction is that raw materials are always available and seem unlimited. Deuterium can easily be obtained from water and Tritium can be produced from Lithium.

One gram of materials for fusion reaction will produce energy equivalent to 11 tons of coal.

In addition, the synthesis process does not emit carbon dioxide, does not create dangerous nuclear waste and there is no risk of explosion.

Complex technology

Although there is a simple principle, this process contains a lot of potential risks when having to recreate a sun in the reactor.

The minimum required temperature for the reaction is 100 million degrees Celsius, an unbelievable number.

The next concern when operating is that the plasma will tend to contact the shell of the furnace. A high temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius can melt the energy-generating machine. To prevent this from happening, 70 giant magnetic coils are installed around the furnace to stabilize the magnetic field.

When operating at full capacity, 100 tons of magnetic force will be placed into a steel frame the size of a human arm.

Electromagnets will be cooled to minus 269 degrees Celsius with liquid helium. They then become superconducting and allow the necessary electricity to pass through without any problems.

Design of Wendelstein 7-X fusion reactor.

The form of nuclear fusion in the reactor is known as a form of Stellarator - a device that keeps hot plasma in a magnetic field to maintain the ability to control nuclear fusion.

Stellarator invented by Lyman Spitzer, the first furnace models were installed in the Princeton plasma physics laboratory, in 1951.

This type of nuclear synthesis solved the problem faced by Tokamak synthesis furnaces. (Tokamak is the type of furnace used by physicists until today).

According to Lutz Wegener, Tokamak furnace can only burn plasma within 10-30 seconds at a time. Even the advanced Tokamak ITER kiln is today (located in Cadarache, France), only reaching a few minutes time. Therefore, the reaction time is not long enough to create a meaningful energy source for future use.