I am devoted to scientific research, but you want to trick me into having a love relationship?

Chapter 764 requires a presentable demonstration reactor design.

Just as Xu Qingzhou was working on improving the divertor solution for liquid metal, the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Germany released some exciting news on August 27.

The W7-X stellarator successfully maintained its threshold for 360 seconds.

This means that the W7-X stellarator has surpassed the US NIF and has become the most likely controlled nuclear fusion device to be commercialized.

For the field of fusion, commercialization requires meeting two independent metrics—the Q-value and the Lawson criterion.

Xu Qingzhou and his team's current approach is to first achieve the Lawson criterion, proving that the fusion reaction can be self-sustaining, and then break through the Q-value barrier to achieve net gain.

The W7-X stellarator, on the other hand, had a Q value of 15 and a runtime of 30 minutes last October.

Why is it that even though the Q value has reached 15, far exceeding the standard for building a demonstration tokamak, we still cannot build the reactor?

This is because the plasma density of W7-X did not meet the standard.

The Lawson criterion requires a density of ≥10 particles/m, but stellarators, due to the limitations of their magnetic field structure, usually keep the density at a lower level to maintain plasma stability.

To put it simply, it's like a rocket engine reaching its ignition temperature and the combustion chamber being large enough to continuously inject thrust for 30 minutes. However, if the fuel injection concentration is insufficient, the thrust will never exceed the threshold, which means it won't actually help the rocket takeoff.

Now, the Lawson criterion has been reached and remains in effect for 6 minutes.

In other words, this engine can not only continuously generate thrust for 30 minutes, but it can now propel the rocket at high altitude for 6 minutes.

Although the plane will still crash after 6 minutes, the fact that it went from being unable to take off to taking off is a qualitative leap.

Next, as long as the Lawson criterion and Q value are maintained, it is only a matter of time before a demonstration reactor is built, and in terms of progress, it can be said that it has directly pulled ahead of the United States.

"As expected."

Xu Qingzhou wasn't too surprised by the achievements of Klinger and others.

In terms of time, Germany acquired the superconducting thin film and upgraded the superconducting magnet almost a year faster than the United States. Nowadays, even six months can create a significant gap.

"The commercialization of stellarators seems to be much faster than that of tokamak."

"No wonder Klinger said in the email not to be too surprised."

Xu Qingzhou leaned back in his chair, squinted at the window, and chuckled softly, "No matter how you look at it, this is indeed an unprecedented advancement, but Qiankun No. 1 is no less impressive."

"If all goes well, the next experiment can begin in mid-October."

He was quite confident in the device he designed.

Putting aside distractions, Xu Qingzhou focused his attention on the current design data of traditional tokamak.

Academician Ren Nan's verification of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) shunting technology is progressing smoothly. Currently, the TBR is ≥1.03, which is only 0.6 away from solving the tritium self-sufficiency problem.

With progress in modifying the divertor, he plans to focus on two issues with the spherical tokamak: "insufficient circumferential field strength" and "low neutral beam injection efficiency."

While completing the net energy gain experiment, a presentable demonstration reactor design is essential.

At 5 p.m., Xu Qingzhou went to the laboratory again.

"There's still a 0.2% difference from our estimate. We'll do a few more rounds of experiments to see where the problem lies."

In the laboratory, Xu Qingzhou spoke to Hu Jingxuan, the group leader.

Hu Jingxuan's team is responsible for capturing magnetohydrodynamic vortex impurities in order to further increase the upper limit of the thermal load bearing capacity of the first wall.

"it is good."

Hu Jingxuan answered crisply and decisively.

Xu Qingzhou took the data to Ren Xiaoling's lab. Ren Xiaoling had been staying in the lab for most of the time, while he focused on data analysis and designing the tokamak demonstration reactor.

Hu Jingxuan said to the three group members, "Okay, everyone go eat first. We'll meet at 6:3 and then discuss how to improve the magnetohydrodynamic protection that Professor Xu mentioned."

"Row."

Everyone packed their things, preparing to go eat first, and at the same time, they started chatting. The young man with glasses said, "Professor Xu is definitely the strictest boss I've ever met."

Even a 0.0001% error means starting over.

"But undeniably, he's also the most generous boss we've ever encountered," the researcher next to him said with a smile.

The young man with glasses chuckled.

Working at the materials research institute, in addition to the regular salary and project commissions, there is also a project bonus of four to five hundred thousand yuan every year.

If you're lucky, you can buy a house in Kyoto after working here for a few years.

Not to mention domestically, even internationally, their treatment here would rank among the top.

Of course, the salary is high, the benefits are good, and it's really busy.

Especially when facing a scholar like Xu Qingzhou, one dares not slack off in the slightest. For example, during a meeting, if you dare to daydream for even a few seconds, you might not know where Professor Xu is going.

Tremendous stress.

However, everyone was quite happy with it and found it very motivating.

People who do scientific research, besides the daily grind, still have scientific dreams. The thought that the commercialization of controlled nuclear fusion will be realized in their own hands, and that they are doing a noble cause, makes all the hard work worthwhile.

Here, as long as you are willing to do academic research, it is definitely the best platform. There are no restrictions. Even if it is an obscure topic, it doesn't matter. As long as you can explain it clearly, you can get funding.

This is impossible in other research institutes in the country.

People only look at the results; the probability of getting approved for niche research topics is extremely low.

This is the effect Xu Qingzhou needed.

Whether it's MIT or Princeton, the core of these world-class research institutes is a pure research environment with "no courses, no teaching tasks, and no administrative intervention."

Scholars do not need to publish papers or worry about making a living.

The most important aspect is cultural reconstruction, removing the utilitarian evaluation system, and creating a harmonious academic ecosystem and atmosphere.

Xu Qingzhou had already arrived at the electrical laboratory.

"how is the situation?"

Xu Qingzhou asked.

"This is the data table I just compiled."

Ren Xiaoling handed the form to Xu Qingzhou.

Test number 15.
Heat load: 25
Uniformity of liquid metal coverage: 3% in exposed areas (meets standards)
Surface temperature fluctuation (°C): ±2
Traffic generation efficiency (%): 91
Magnetic field control effect: stable flow with no splashing
】

Test number 16.

Heat load: 27
Liquid metal coverage uniformity: 3.2% in exposed areas (meets standards)

"The effect of liquid metal is quite good, and the current data is enough to show that this technology is useful."

"But as the heat load increases, the exposed area also tends to rise. It seems that we need to add another heat dissipation channel, or apply some kind of coating to reduce the evaporation rate."

Xu Qingzhou pondered for a moment and said to Ren Xiaoling, "Continue to increase the heat load data value, which needs to cover the upper limit of the traditional divertor (20-30MW/m), and then gradually increase it to 50MW/m."

Ren Xiaoling nodded.

Xu Qingzhou copied the data and went back to his office to further refine the thermal model in order to pre-screen the experimental parameters for Ren Xiaoling's next experiment.

Then he called Wang Wei and asked him to come over.

Now that liquid metal has proven to be effective, let's not waste any more time and set up an experimental team to get the divertor working before the next experiment.

(End of this chapter)