One country is getting closer to producing infinite energy. Germany is the country that is focusing on breakthrough innovations, with Germany’s Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics having uncovered the secret of how to sustain plasma at a temperature of 72,000,000ºF (40 million ºC) for 43 seconds in what is known as the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator reactor. Germany surely is setting the record for the longest duration of high-energy plasma, but is touching the iceberg in terms of what this stellarator can one day offer.
Understanding the Wendelstein 7-X innovation
Unlike the more conventional machines or the sophisticated tokamak reactors, this stellarator makes use of a more complex magnetic field while being shaped like an infinity sign. The stellarator had been created so as to confine plasma at higher temperatures for much longer. Much sophisticated engineering and devotion went into the creation of the Wendelstein, allowing it to operate continuously without any apparent hurdles.
In a more recent experiment, this W7-X team coordinated an unprecedented test by making use of a pellet injector that had been created by Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the U.S. What resulted from this experiment was 43 seconds of 90 hydrogen pellets being fired into the plasma chamber while microwaves heated the plasma to extreme temperatures. The plasma reached a temperature of 30 million ºC (54 million ºF), with the temperature in some of the regions reaching 40 million ºC (72 million ºF), which is three times hotter than the sun. Astonishingly enough, this seems to be quite a feat for a stellarator.
In order to ensure that optimal conditions were set, both diagnostics from Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and other tools were used in order to ensure the best possible conditions were created for fusion.
Wendelstein works, but cannot generate electricity
At this point, the Wendelstein 7-X is unable to generate electricity. However, at the same moment, the focus remains on finding enough evidence to decide if this stellarator concept can function as a prototype for future fusion power plants. The focal point of the W7-X is to ensure long plasma duration, high temperatures, and energy retention, which are essential features of fusion.
In a more recent endeavor, the energy turnover of 1,8 gigajoules is quite a big advancement from the prior 1,3 gigajoule record. The reactor can also keep plasma pressure entirely stable. In theory, all seems set in place for fusion reactors to power home industries. However, we are far from getting there at this point with the Wendelstein 7-X. There are still many bumps along the way. Then again, if China could make it rain energy, who knows what the future of nuclear fusion can be?
The key difference between fusion and renewables
Although Germany will surely turn heads and gain much attention for this incredible Wendelstein 7-X invention, fusion itself tends to be far from pollution-free. There are also many risks when it comes to fusion. What results are radioactive waste, rare materials, and all of this requires far too much energy. There are still many challenges that nuclear energy faces.
For many, solar panels are still the way to go alongside power generated by wind turbines or hydrogen fuel cells. Such technologies are not responsible for generating hazardous waste, and the promise of these renewable power sources to generate free, yet clean energy, cannot be denied. All in all, the perfection of the Wendelstein 7-X as a working solution cannot be denied. The truth is, we require clean energy, and while awaiting future processes, we need to consider the potential to move towards more renewable solutions first before looking at nuclear energy, which results in environmental pollution.
