18.07.2021 – 12:05
China says it has set itself the goal of developing clean energy sources through next-generation nuclear technologies.
Chinese researchers have set a new record as they announced yesterday that “Artificial sun” created by them reached a temperature of 120 million degrees Celsius for a duration of more than 100 seconds.
The experiment was held at the Institute of Plasma Physics in Hefei, and was part of efforts to create clean energy by next-generation nuclear fusion.
Also known as the Tokamak Super-Conductor Experiment, “Chinese artificial sun” managed to generate plasma temperatures of up to 120 million degrees Celsius in 101 seconds, before scientists then reached a temperature of 160 million degrees Celsius, for a duration of 20 seconds.
The goal of this major experiment is to create energy similar to that of the sun using deuterium, the hydrogen isotope that is abundant in the oceans and can produce a steady stream of clean energy. According to calculations, one liter of seawater contains enough deuterium to produce energy equivalent to that produced by 300 liters of oil.
China says it seeks to replace fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas with nuclear fusion energy for a more environmentally friendly society.
“This is a great achievement in Chinese physics and engineering. “The success of the experiment lays the foundation for the construction of China’s first fusion power station.” director Song Yuntao told Chinese media.
The artificial sun is in fact part of the international venture of the International Experimental Thermonuclear Reactor, with the participation of scientists from China, Russia, the European Union, India, Japan, South Korea and the USA.
Experts say that at current rates of development, full nuclear fusion could be achieved within three decades.
