After successful recommissioning in autumn 2022, the Greifswald nuclear fusion experiment has surpassed an important target.
In 2023, an energy turnover of 1 gigajoule was targeted. Now the researchers have even achieved 1.3 gigajoules and a new record for discharge time on Wendelstein 7-X: the hot plasma could be maintained for eight minutes.
Infrared image from the vacuum vessel of Wendelstein 7-X. The picture does NOT show the plasma itself, but the temperature distribution at the water-cooled divertor baffles. The divertor baffles are used to dissipate the heat from the plasma. A defined line in the centre, the so-called strike line, is clearly visible. This is where the plasma touches the divertor and the temperature is highest. In individual areas, temperatures of up to 600 degrees Celsius are reached (red areas). The divertor tiles can withstand temperatures of up to 1200 degrees Celsius.” data-picture=”base64;<picture class="" data-iesrc="/5323153/original-1677072465.jpg?t=eyJ3aWR0aCI6MTQwMCwiZmlsZV9leHRlbnNpb24iOiJqcGciLCJvYmpfaWQiOjUzMjMxNTN9--c0bc07b445deab3742505837d26da3d00e024d62" data-alt="Infrared image from the vacuum vessel of Wendelstein 7-X. The picture does NOT show the plasma itself, but the temperature distribution at the water-cooled divertor baffles. The divertor baffles are used to dissipate the heat from the plasma. A defined line in the centre, the so-called strike line, is clearly visible. This is where the plasma touches the divertor and the temperature is highest. In individual areas, temperatures of up to 600 degrees Celsius are reached (red areas). 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type="image/jpeg" /><img alt="Infrared image from the vacuum vessel of Wendelstein 7-X. The picture does NOT show the plasma itself, but the temperature distribution at the water-cooled divertor baffles. The divertor baffles are used to dissipate the heat from the plasma. A defined line in the centre, the so-called strike line, is clearly visible. This is where the plasma touches the divertor and the temperature is highest. In individual areas, temperatures of up to 600 degrees Celsius are reached (red areas). The divertor tiles can withstand temperatures of up to 1200 degrees Celsius." class="" title="Infrared image from the vacuum vessel of Wendelstein 7-X. The picture does NOT show the plasma itself, but the temperature distribution at the water-cooled divertor baffles. The divertor baffles are used to dissipate the heat from the plasma. A defined line in the centre, the so-called strike line, is clearly visible. This is where the plasma touches the divertor and the temperature is highest. In individual areas, temperatures of up to 600 degrees Celsius are reached (red areas). The divertor tiles can withstand temperatures of up to 1200 degrees Celsius." src="/5323153/original-1677072465.jpg?t=eyJ3aWR0aCI6MTQwMCwiZmlsZV9leHRlbnNpb24iOiJqcGciLCJvYmpfaWQiOjUzMjMxNTN9--c0bc07b445deab3742505837d26da3d00e024d62" /></picture>”>
The plasma discharge lasted eight minutes Particularly heat-resistant divertor baffle plates are used to dissipate the largest heat flows at Wendelstein 7-X. They are part of the inner wall, which is now cooled by a system of 6.8 kilometres of water pipes since the completion of the device. No other fusion facility in the world currently has such a comprehensively cooled inner wall. The plasma heating consists of three components: the newly installed ion heating, the heating by neutral particle injection and electron microwave heating. For the current record, the electron microwave heating system was particularly important because it delivers large amounts of power over periods of several minutes. The energy turnover of 1.3 gigajoule was achieved with an average heating power of 2.7 megawatts, whereby the discharge lasted 480 seconds. This is also a new record for Wendelstein 7-X and one of the best values worldwide. Before the completion works, Wendelstein 7-X achieved maximum plasma times of 100 seconds at much lower heating power.
Within a few years, the plan is to increase the energy turnover at Wendelstein 7-X to 18 gigajoules, with the plasma then being kept stable for half an hour.
 Background to nuclear fusion The goal of fusion research is to develop a climate and environmentally friendly power plant. Similar to the sun, it is to generate energy from the fusion of atomic nuclei. The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics is pursuing the path of magnetic fusion. Because the fusion fire only ignites at temperatures above 100 million degrees, the fuel – a thin hydrogen plasma – must not come into contact with cold vessel walls. Held by magnetic fields, it floats almost contact-free inside a vacuum chamber. The magnetic cage of Wendelstein 7-X is created by a ring of 50 superconducting magnetic coils. It is a stellarator-type facility in which the special shapes of the coils are the result of sophisticated optimisation calculations. With the help of these coils, the quality of plasma confinement in a stellarator should reach the level of competing tokamak-type facilities.
