Idaho National Laboratory ( INL ) is leading an initiative to test fusion technologies that could improve power generation in the coming years, under a program whose main objective is the development of a fusion blanket, which could increase productivity in nuclear reactors.
The goal of INL and the fusion blanket
INL has been selected as one of the lead research centers for this project. Under the FIRE ( Fusion Innovation Research ) program , the laboratory will lead research into the fusion blanket, in an attempt to better capture the energy generated in reactors. These components protect the reactors’ magnets and allow the conversion of fusion energy into heat, which is vital for generating electricity.
We will now leverage INL’s experience in designing and implementing complex test stands for neutron testing at the Advanced Test Reactor, one of the most powerful test reactors in operation worldwide.
Patrick Calderoni, director of the fusion research program.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded a $107 million grant to a group of research centers, headquartered at INL, to advance these energy developments.
The collaborative effort involves multiple entities, both governmental and private. Among the most notable are General Atomics , a company that will provide its expertise in nuclear engineering and advanced computational models, as well as Tokamak Energy, which will collaborate in the design and development of the fusion blankets to ensure their commercial applicability.
These advances are important to achieving the dream of an operational fusion power plant with clean energy generation capabilities on a permanent basis. As the fusion fuel cycle , based on isotopes such as deuterium and tritium , advances, tests carried out in fission reactors will allow the technologies to be validated before they are implemented in large-scale fusion facilities.
With universities and large corporations collaborating on fusion technology, efforts to improve fusion energy and make it a commercial reality are intensifying. As the technology advances, the United States is expected to continue to transform the fusion industry, ensuring its energy independence and a clean, sustainable energy future.
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Source and photo: INL
