The first giant magnet in the ITER project has successfully passed testing
Within the framework of the international thermonuclear project, namely the ITER project, engineers have begun implementing one of the most critical stages of reactor commissioning. This was reported by Zamin.uz.
This stage involves testing the superconducting magnets. The first massive toroidal field coil, weighing 330 tons, successfully passed testing at the Magnet Cold Test Facility.
This gigantic device was cooled down to its operating temperature of 4 Kelvin, or minus 269 degrees Celsius. This temperature is only a few degrees above absolute zero.
The main purpose of the tests is to ensure the flawless operation of the magnetic system before its final installation inside the reactor. It takes from four to six months to fully test each magnet.
During this process, specialists apply a current of up to 68 kA to the coils to simulate their future operating modes. This magnetic system is specifically responsible for keeping the plasma, which heats up to tens of millions of degrees inside the reactor, under control.
The ITER project utilizes a total of 18 massive D-shaped toroidal field coils, six poloidal coils, and six modules of a central solenoid. The entire system has an energy storage capacity of up to 51 GJ.
The magnets are made of niobium-tin and niobium-titanium alloys, which almost completely lose electrical resistance when cooled with liquid helium. This allows for the creation of very powerful magnetic fields with minimal energy consumption.
The state of superconductivity requires very strict and precise conditions. If the temperature or current exceeds the permitted limit, a quench event—the sudden loss of superconductivity and the release of a large amount of heat—may occur.
Therefore, during the tests, the ability of the safety systems to detect such situations in fractions of a second is also being rigorously checked. According to ITER Director General Pietro Barabaschi, such an approach greatly helps in reducing risks before the final assembly of the reactor.
This experiment serves as a foundation not only for the ITER project but also for future commercial thermonuclear power plants being developed worldwide. This achievement is considered an important step toward creating an infinite and clean energy source for humanity.
