In a significant stride towards more efficient and cost-effective fusion power plants, researchers have uncovered a promising avenue that could reshape the energy sector’s future. A study published in the journal *Nuclear Fusion*, titled “On the feasibility of Ohmically heated negative triangularity tokamak power plants,” explores the potential of negative triangularity (NT) plasmas to achieve enhanced confinement without the need for external heating, a departure from conventional methods.
Lead author Alessandro Balestri, a researcher at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, explains, “Negative triangularity plasmas offer a unique opportunity to simplify the design and operation of fusion power plants. By eliminating the need for external heating, we can reduce complexity and potentially lower costs, making fusion energy more accessible and commercially viable.”
Traditionally, fusion reactors rely on external heating to reach the high temperatures necessary for plasma confinement, a state known as H-mode. However, this process is energy-intensive and requires precise control to avoid edge localized modes, which can damage reactor walls. The study demonstrates that NT plasmas can achieve similar confinement without these challenges, opening up a new parameter space for reactor design.
The research team analyzed the impact of external heating on several reactor-relevant devices, including SPARC, MANTA, ITER, and DEMO. They found that for devices with sufficiently high magnetic field and fusion gain, Ohmically heated NT scenarios outperformed positive triangularity H-mode scenarios with external heating. “This finding suggests that NT plasmas could be particularly well-suited for high fusion gain scenarios, such as burning plasma experiments,” Balestri notes.
The implications for the energy sector are substantial. By reducing the need for external heating, NT plasmas could lead to more compact and efficient fusion power plants, lowering capital and operational costs. This could accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy, providing a clean, abundant, and sustainable power source for future generations.
As the world grapples with the urgent need to transition to low-carbon energy sources, this research offers a glimmer of hope. While further investigations with more comprehensive models are necessary, the potential of NT plasmas to simplify and enhance fusion reactor design is a significant step forward. Balestri’s work, published in the esteemed journal *Nuclear Fusion*, which is published by IOP Publishing, underscores the importance of continued innovation and exploration in the field of fusion energy.
In the quest for a sustainable energy future, the findings of this study could prove to be a game-changer, bringing us one step closer to harnessing the power of fusion.