ITER (International Experimental Fusion Reactor)

Main article: Thermonuclear power

Chronicle

The world's largest fusion reactor is finally complete. It took $28 billion

In early July 2024, participants in the ITER project to create the world's largest tokamak-type thermonuclear reactor announced the completion of one of the main stages of work. The giant complex is finally completed, but its launch is delayed by at least 15 years.

Initially, it was planned that the cost of the reactor would be about $5 billion, and its commissioning was scheduled for 2020. However, a series of delays followed, while the project budget exceeded $22 billion. According to Live Science, these funds were also not enough. It takes at least another $5 billion to cover additional costs. As a result, total costs are estimated at about $28 billion.

livescience.com

The magnetic tokamak system, among other things, includes 18 toroidal field coils. According to the resource "Country Rosatom," the official publication of the state corporation "Rosatom," all these elements are made and delivered to the ITER site. Toroidal field coils, which are mounted around the vacuum chamber of the reactor, are an essential part of the magnetic system. They will provide magnetic retention of super-hot plasma heated to 300 million degrees Celsius.

It is noted that 10 coils were produced in countries, and European Union another nine, including one spare, in. Japan Superconductors for these products are made in,, Russia China Japan, Korea, USA and EU countries. Thus, the Chepetsk Mechanical Plant, part of the Rosatom fuel company, shipped 100 tons of superconducting niobium-tin strands - wire for the cable.

The world's largest thermonuclear reactor is the fruit of cooperation between 35 countries, including all the states of the European Union, Russia, China, India and the United States. In accordance with the new schedule, the launch of the tokamak will take place no earlier than 2039.^[1]

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