In the relentless pursuit of sustainable and efficient energy, researchers at Seoul National University have made a significant stride in the realm of fusion energy. Led by Won Ik Jeong from the Department of Nuclear Engineering, a team has demonstrated a novel approach to enhance energy confinement in fusion reactors, a breakthrough that could reshape the future of clean energy production.
At the heart of this research lies the Versatile Experimental Spherical Torus (VEST), a cutting-edge facility designed to mimic the conditions of a fusion reactor. Historically, VEST has struggled with high radiative power losses during ohmic operation, a process where electrical current heats the plasma. These losses, primarily caused by impurity influx, have been a persistent challenge, limiting the energy confinement time and overall efficiency.
Enter boronization, a technique that involves coating the inner walls of the fusion device with boron. Jeong and his team employed a controlled boronization process using carborane, a boron-rich compound, to tackle the issue of radiative losses. “The key was to find the optimal dose,” Jeong explains. “Too little, and the impurities aren’t suppressed. Too much, and the radiative losses reaccelerate.”
The team’s meticulous experiments revealed that a dose of 0.2 grams of carborane was the sweet spot. At this dosage, radiative losses were suppressed to nearly negligible levels, resulting in a doubling of the energy confinement time compared to the untreated case. This enhancement, quantified by a factor of ${H_{89 – {\text{P}}}}{ }\sim { }2.0$, marks a significant improvement in the energy confinement regime.
The implications of this research are profound for the energy sector. Fusion energy, with its potential for nearly limitless, clean power, has long been the holy grail of energy production. However, the technological hurdles have been substantial. Improving energy confinement is a critical step towards making fusion energy commercially viable. By minimizing radiative losses, Jeong’s work brings us closer to efficient, sustainable fusion power.
Looking ahead, the team envisions optimizing the boronization process further to minimize radiative power losses in upcoming fusion reactors. This research, published in the esteemed journal ‘Nuclear Fusion’ (translated from English), opens new avenues for innovation in the field. As we stand on the cusp of a fusion energy revolution, Jeong’s work serves as a beacon, guiding us towards a future powered by the stars. The energy sector watches with bated breath, hopeful that this breakthrough will accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy, ushering in a new era of clean, abundant power.