The Korea Fusion Energy Research Institute (Korea Fusion Research Institute) operated an ultra-high temperature plasma (the fourth state beyond solid, liquid, and gas) of 100 million degrees Celsius, which is the optimum temperature for nuclear fusion power generation, by Korea's artificial sun 'KSTAR' for 30 seconds. It was announced today (22nd) that it was successful.
It succeeded in operating for 20 seconds in a row last year, achieving the longest record among the world's nuclear fusion devices, and then extending it for 10 seconds this year.
As the plasma control technology improved by improving heating performance and securing optimal magnetic field conditions compared to last year, the stability of the internal transport barrier (ITB) mode, the next-generation operation mode for fusion reactor operation, has been improved.
The fusion reactor plans to achieve 300 seconds of maintaining 100 million degrees of ultra-high temperature plasma by 2026 through related research, such as securing real-time feedback control technology to maintain the stability of the ITB mode.
To extend the operating time, we plan to improve the power supply and install a tungsten diverter to suppress the temperature rise of the inner wall.
Director Yoo Seok-jae said, "Fusion energy generates energy through a nuclear fusion reaction, the principle of solar energy, and is attracting attention as a clean energy that does not emit carbon. I will,” he said.
K-Star is a superconducting fusion research device that produces energy by generating a solar-like fusion reaction on the ground.
(Photo=provided by Korea Fusion Energy Research Institute, Yonhap News)