The Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory ( PPPL ) has made progress on its fusion power project, completing construction of the first quadrant of the central magnet of the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade ( NSTX-U ).
NSTX-U central magnet progress
The NSTX-U incorporates a compact and powerful design, intended to serve as a model for future fusion plants. Among its main parts, we find the toroidal field coil ( TF ), a 19-foot-high magnet that has the capacity to carry four million amperes of electric current, providing a magnetic field that confines the plasma. In addition, it allows to surround the ohmic heating coil ( OH ) that generates an electric field of 24,000 amperes, helping to induce and maintain the plasma in optimal experimental conditions.
A complex assembly: One piece at a time
The process for building these magnets is extraordinarily detailed, airtight and meticulous. Each quadrant of the TF magnet is manufactured using the vacuum pressure impregnation ( VPI ) technique, which ensures a solid, flaw-free structure. A group of technicians at Elytt Energy in Bilbao, Spain, have worked tirelessly to accurately assemble and test these pieces. “ Building the first quadrant is a huge achievement ,” noted Steve Cowley, director of the lab.
The creation of each TF coil quadrant follows a sequence of precise steps. It begins with the preparation of the copper conductors, which are cleaned and wrapped in fiberglass tape before being impregnated with plastic resin under vacuum and controlled heat conditions. This process ensures that the magnet maintains its structural integrity and operates safely during plasma experiments.
Project Manager Dave Micheletti praised the team’s effort: “ We’re pleased that the process was a success and look forward to the time when the entire magnet is completed .” Once the four quadrants are assembled, they will be carefully joined together and positioned within the NSTX-U core structure .
Assembly of NSTX-U does not end with the core magnet. Once complete, the PPPL team will proceed with the integration of other critical systems, such as gas, water and electrical services, ensuring that everything is ready for future experimental operations. The scientific community around the world is excited about the potential of this device, which could provide vital information to make fusion energy a commercial reality.
The NSTX-U team is preparing for crane lift tests this fall, a simulation that will ensure the accuracy of the final assembly. Once completed, this device could change the future of clean energy, offering a replicable model for future fusion-based power plants.
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Source and photo: PPPL
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