The largest fusion reactor on Earth, known as ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), is currently under construction in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France.
Unveiling ITER: The World's Largest Fusion Experiment
ITER is an unprecedented international collaboration designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power on a large scale. It is a monumental step towards developing clean, virtually limitless energy.
Location and Purpose
Located in the south of France, ITER is being built by 35 nations, encompassing over half of the world's population. Its primary goal is to prove that fusion power can be produced in a sustained manner and to test the integrated technologies and materials needed for a commercial fusion power plant.
Key Technical Specifications
The sheer scale of ITER is evident in its design and technical specifications, which are crucial for achieving its ambitious fusion goals. It's designed to be the world's largest tokamak, a magnetic confinement device that has been at the forefront of fusion research.
| Feature | Value |
|---|---|
| Major Radius | 6.2 meters (20 feet) |
| Plasma Volume | 840 cubic meters |
| Magnetic Field | |
| Toroidal (peak on coil) | 11.8 Tesla |
| Toroidal (on axis) | 5.3 Tesla |
| Poloidal (peak on coil) | 6 Tesla |
These specifications highlight the immense engineering challenge and the potential for groundbreaking scientific advancements that ITER represents in the quest for fusion energy. Once operational, ITER aims to produce a tenfold return on energy, generating 500 MW of fusion power from 50 MW of input heating power.
For more detailed information on this ambitious project, visit the ITER Wikipedia page.
