T-15 (reactor)
Tokamak-15 | |
---|---|
MW | |
History | |
Year(s) of operation | 1988–1995 |
Succeeded by | T-15MD |
The T-15 (or Tokamak-15) is a Russian (previously Soviet)
The T-15 achieved creating its first thermonuclear plasma in 1988 and the reactor remained operational until 1995. The plasma created was thought to solve a number of issues engineers have struggled with in the past.[
It achieved 1 MA and 1.5 MW injection for 1 second pulse.[5] It carried out about 100 shots before closing (in 1995) due to a lack of funds.[6]
1996 upgrade
From 1996 to 1998 a series of upgrades were made to the reactor, in order to conduct preliminary research for the design work on the
Upgrade to T-15MD
In the year 2010 it was decided to upgrade the reactor.[7] The upgraded machine is called T-15MD. On the basis of the T-15 there will be created a nuclear fusion–fission hybrid reactor, intended to use the neutrons generated by a core fusion reactor component to incite fission in otherwise nonfissile fuels, and to explore the feasibility of such a system for power generation.[8][9] Assembly of the magnetic coils was finished in August 2019.[10] As of early 2020 the status of construction was reported as "entering the final phase".[11] At the end of 2020, preparations for the physical start-up of T-15MD were completed.[10] The physical launch took place in May 2021 and further hardware upgrades are planned until 2024.[12]
T-15MD has a major radius R = 1.48 m and a minor radius a = 0.67 m. The toroidal magnetic field is 2 T, produced by ordinary conducting coils. The intended plasma current is 2 MA, which is planned to be sustained for 40 s with neutral particle injection and microwaves, and without using inductive current drive.[13]
References
- ^ "The second life of Tokamak T-15". www.iter.org. 5 November 2010. Archived from the original on 28 June 2017.
- ^ "Russian Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute"". 2005-02-25. Archived from the original on 2005-02-25. Retrieved 2020-06-20.
- S2CID 17487157.
- ^ [1] Belyakov et al., The T-15 tokamak. Basic characteristics and research program, Soviet Atomic Energy, February 1982, Volume 52, Issue 2, pp 103–111
- ^ "Superconducting Tokamak T-15 Upgrade. Kirnev et al" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-08-11. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
- ^ [2] The Second Life of Tokamak T-15, Iter newsline, 5 November 2010
- ^ TOKAMAK T-15MD: experience of scientific and technical project realization in RUSSIA (2017)
- ^ Upgraded Russian tokamak T-15 launch in 2018
- ^ Пуск модернизированной российской термоядерной установки ожидается в 2018 году
- ^ a b Petr Khvostenko. "Tokamak T-15MD – preparing for physical start-up". 28th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference.
- ^ Khvostenko, P. P. (2020). "Preparation to physical start up of tokamak T-15MD has reached the final stage" (PDF).
- ^ "Russia launches T-15MD tokamak at the Kurchatov Institute". Nuclear Engineering International. 2021-05-20.
- ISSN 2100-014X.
Further reading
- Josephson, P. R. (2000). Red atom: Russia's nuclear power program from Stalin to today. New York: W.H. Freeman.
- Effects of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident on Utility Share Prices. Rajiv Kalra, Glenn V. Henderson, Jr. and Gary A. Raines. Quarterly Journal of Business and Economics, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Spring, 1993), pp. 52–77.