Growth in energy consumption has been increasing over the years as the energy revolution has developed. This growth in global consumption has created a need to explore new, more efficient and sustainable energy options. In this context, the nuclear fusion It is presented as an alternative with enormous potential for energy production. However, it does not currently exist at an industrial level due to the great technical challenges. One of the most advanced efforts to develop this technology is the ITER project (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), an international program that seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of nuclear fusion.
In this article we will explain what the ITER programme consists of, what its main objective is and the latest news about its development.
What is ITER
El ITER is one of the largest and most complex scientific projects in the world. It is an experimental nuclear fusion reactor that seeks to replicate the processes that occur in the interior of the Sun and other stars, where the fusion of hydrogen atoms generates energy. In a reactor like ITER, fusion reactions take place in a controlled environment, with extreme materials and temperatures that attempt to imitate the conditions of the solar core, managing to generate a considerable amount of energy.
Nuclear fusion involves combining two light atoms, usually deuterium y tritium, to form a heavier one (helium) and release large amounts of energy in the process. This energy is much greater than that obtained through nuclear fission, which is the process currently used in conventional nuclear plants. ITER uses a magnetic confinement system via a device known as a tokamak. This reactor is shaped like a toroid (doughnut) and uses powerful superconducting magnets to concentrate the hot plasma needed for fusion reactions without it coming into contact with the reactor walls.
One of the great technological challenges of the ITER project is to reach temperatures of around 150 million degrees Celsius, about 10 times greater than those at the core of the Sun. This level of temperature is necessary to fuse hydrogen isotopes under controlled conditions. The goal of ITER is to demonstrate that nuclear fusion is not only possible, but can also be a commercially viable source of energy for the future.
The energy that can be generated through nuclear fusion could be practically inexhaustible, since the main fuels, deuterium and tritium, are relatively abundant. Deuterium can be extracted from seawater, while tritium can be obtained from lithium, a material also common on the planet.
ITER, Cadarache and Spain
ITER is being built in Cadarache, in the south of France, a research centre with a long history of nuclear studies. This gigantic project has enjoyed the collaboration of 35 countries since its inception, including the European Union, the United States, China, India, Japan, Russia and South Korea.
The initial budget for its construction was around 5.000 billion euros, although these figures could rise considerably as the project progresses. It is estimated that the construction of ITER will take about 10 years, and its operation will extend for at least 20 additional years. During this period, the main objective will be to demonstrate that it is possible to create a large scale fusion power plant, capable of generating more energy than it consumes.
Spain also plays an important role in the ITER project. Since 2007, the headquarters of the European Fusion Agency It is located in Barcelona, where much of the efforts are coordinated between the European engineers, scientists and administrators involved in the project. Spain actively participates in the research and development of advanced materials for the reactor, as well as collaborating in the design of remote manipulation systems and advanced diagnostics to monitor and control the operation of the tokamak.
Advantages of Nuclear Fusion
The development of nuclear fusion has several advantages that make it a very attractive energy option:
- Zero greenhouse gas emissions:Unlike fossil fuels, fusion power plants do not emit carbon dioxide or pollutants into the atmosphere during operation.
- SecurityNuclear fusion does not present the same risks as nuclear fission. In the event of a reactor failure, the reactions would stop naturally, without catastrophic consequences such as those that could occur in a fission plant.
- Abundant fuel:As mentioned, deuterium can be easily obtained from seawater, and tritium can be produced from lithium, ensuring an almost unlimited supply of fuel.
- Less generation of radioactive waste: Although nuclear fusion produces some waste, it is much smaller and less dangerous than that generated by fission. Fusion waste ceases to be dangerous within a few decades, while fission waste can remain radioactive for thousands of years.
Latest news and technological advances
ITER has reached a crucial stage in recent years. In 2012, the license for its construction was obtained by the French authorities, and in 2014 work began on assembling the key parts and components of the reactor. Supplies have been distributed among the participating countries, according to their contributions to the project.
One of the most important milestones in the recent history of ITER was the start of assembly of the Machine core in 2020. This assembly will last approximately five years, and the first plasma - the phase in which the reactor enters into operation - is expected to be obtained in the year 2025 Although this first plasma will be of short duration and its main objective will be to demonstrate that the magnets are working correctly, it marks an essential step in validating the concept of large-scale fusion.
One of the main challenges to be solved is the management of radioactive gas tritium, which is generated during fusion reactions. ITER is investigating methods to safely control and confine this material.
In addition to progress in reactor construction, scientists and research groups around the world are working on other key aspects to ensure the success of ITER. better diagnostics and operating procedures to control plasma stability, as well as new materials for the internal walls of the reactor that can withstand the extreme conditions generated by fusion.
The technical and commercial viability of nuclear fusion will remain under evaluation over the next two decades, but preliminary results are promising. Experts already believe that ITER could be the first step towards an energy future dominated by nuclear fusion, and some predict that the commercial energy production from this source it will be possible around the year 2050.
In short, ITER represents the best hope for nuclear fusion energy as a long-term solution to the world's energy and environmental challenges today.