The Most Advanced Fusion Reactor: A Comparative Ranking of Cutting-Edge Technologies
Voting rules: Choose the reactor you think is the most advanced!
Jun 16, 2023 10:17 (Updated on Nov 30, 2023 05:26)
Welcome to StrawPoll, where your opinion matters! We're excited to present our latest ranking: "What is the most advanced fusion reactor?" As we stand at the forefront of technological innovation, fusion reactors promise a cleaner, safer, and virtually limitless energy source. Now, it's your turn to weigh in on the cutting-edge fusion reactor designs dominating the scientific landscape. From the incredible ITER project to the groundbreaking advancements by private companies, each contender is pushing the boundaries of human ingenuity. Dive into the world of fusion energy, cast your vote, and join the conversation. Don't see your favorite reactor on the list? Worry not! You can easily suggest a missing option and watch it climb the ranks. Let's map the future of energy together, one vote at a time!
What Is the Most Advanced Fusion Reactor?
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144votesIt is the most advanced fusion reactor being built in France. It is designed to produce 500 MW of fusion power and will be the largest fusion reactor in the world.DescriptionITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is a collaborative project aiming to construct the world's most advanced fusion reactor. It is located in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France. The project was initiated by seven partners: the European Union, Japan, India, China, Russia, South Korea, and the United States. ITER is designed to demonstrate the feasibility and viability of fusion as a sustainable energy source. The reactor will use deuterium and tritium, two isotopes of hydrogen, to generate energy through a process called nuclear fusion.
- Location: Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France
- Partners: European Union, Japan, India, China, Russia, South Korea, United States
- Objective: Demonstrate feasibility of fusion as an energy source
- Fuel: Deuterium and Tritium
- Plasma temperature: 150 million degrees Celsius
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240votes
Max-Planck-Institut für Plasmaphysik, Tino Schulz · CC BY-SA 3.0It is a stellarator fusion reactor that is the largest and most sophisticated of its kind. It is designed to produce plasma for up to 30 minutes and has the potential to produce unlimited energy.DescriptionWendelstein 7-X is an advanced stellarator fusion reactor designed to study the physics of plasma confinement. It is located at the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics in Greifswald, Germany.- Type: Stellarator
- Magnetic Field Strength: up to 3 Tesla
- Plasma Temperature: up to 100 million degrees Celsius
- Plasma Fusion Power: 10 megawatts
- Plasma Duration: 30 minutes (sustained) - 5 seconds (pulsed)
Wendelstein 7-X in other rankings- Position 2 of 10 in Most promising fusion reactor
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328votesIt is a tokamak fusion reactor that was the largest and most powerful in the world until 1997. It has been used for numerous experiments on fusion energy and is still in operation today.DescriptionThe Joint European Torus (JET) is the most advanced fusion reactor experiment in Europe. It is a magnetic confinement fusion device located in Culham, Oxfordshire, England. JET is designed to study the physics and engineering of plasmas inside a toroidal chamber. It has been operational since 1983 and is a significant milestone in the development of fusion energy.
- Type: Magnetic confinement fusion device
- Location: Culham, Oxfordshire, England
- First Operational: 1983
- Shape: Toroidal
- Major Radius: 3 meters
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416votes
Lawrence Livermore National Security · CC BY-SA 3.0It is a laser-based fusion reactor located in California that is designed to create a miniature star on earth. It has the potential to produce large amounts of energy and has been used in numerous experiments.DescriptionThe National Ignition Facility (NIF) is the most advanced fusion reactor in the world. It is a large laser-based facility located at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, United States. NIF was designed with the aim to achieve controlled nuclear fusion and to study high-energy density physics. The facility's primary goal is to create conditions similar to those found at the core of the sun, enabling scientists to better understand fusion as a potential future energy source.- Laser Power: 1.8 Megajoules
- Number of Lasers: 192
- Precision: To within one-tenth the diameter of a human hair
- Target Capsules: Can contain hydrogen isotopes, such as deuterium and tritium
- Peak Power: 500 Terawatts
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520votesIt is a tokamak fusion reactor located in China that has achieved some of the highest plasma temperatures and pressures in the world. It has the potential to produce unlimited energy.DescriptionThe Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) is a magnetic fusion research device located at the Institute of Plasma Physics in Hefei, China. It was designed to explore advanced plasma scenarios and to provide scientific and technological support for the development of fusion energy. The tokamak was built as part of the Chinese National Mega-Science Project.
- Plasma Current: 1.0 MA
- Plasma Temperature: 100 million degrees Celsius
- Plasma Volume: 200 cubic meters
- Magnetic Field Strength: 3 tesla
- Installed Power: 24 MW
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64votesIt is a tokamak fusion reactor located in France that has been used for numerous experiments. It has the potential to produce large amounts of energy and has been used in numerous experiments.DescriptionTore Supra is a superconducting tokamak fusion reactor located in Cadarache, France. It is one of the most advanced fusion research devices in the world and is used to investigate and develop technologies for future fusion power plants.
- Type: Superconducting tokamak
- Location: Cadarache, France
- First Plasma: March 1988
- Major Radius: 2.4 meters
- Minor Radius: 0.8 meters
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78votesIt is a tokamak fusion reactor located in South Korea that has achieved some of the highest plasma temperatures and pressures in the world. It has the potential to produce unlimited energy.DescriptionKSTAR (Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research) is a tokamak fusion reactor located in Daejeon, South Korea. It aims to contribute to the development of nuclear fusion energy by conducting advanced research on plasma physics and fusion engineering.
- Plasma Shape: D-shape
- Plasma Current: 2 MA
- Magnetic Field: 3-8 T
- Plasma Volume: 40 m3
- Plasma Temperature: 100 million degrees Celsius
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810votesIt is a tokamak fusion reactor located in China that has achieved some of the highest plasma temperatures and pressures in the world. It has the potential to produce unlimited energy.DescriptionThe HL-2M Tokamak is a high-performance fusion reactor designed to achieve controlled nuclear fusion. It is an upgraded version of the HL-2A Tokamak and is considered to be one of the most advanced fusion reactors.
- Plasma Current: 2 mega amperes
- Plasma Temperature: over 150 million degrees Celsius
- Magnetic Field Strength: up to 3.5 teslas
- Major Radius: R ≈ 1.27 meters
- Minor Radius: a = 0.45 meters
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95votesIt is a tokamak fusion reactor located in California that has been used for numerous experiments. It has the potential to produce large amounts of energy and has been used in numerous experiments.DescriptionDIII-D is a magnetic fusion energy experiment located at General Atomics in San Diego, California. It is designed to study and develop the physics and technology required for fusion energy. The primary focus of DIII-D is to achieve and sustain high-performance plasmas, test advanced plasma control techniques, and explore various operating scenarios for future fusion reactors.
- Magnetic Field: 2 Tesla
- Plasma Current: 4 Megaamps
- Plasma Volume: Approximately 80 cubic meters
- Plasma Heating Power: Up to 24 Megawatts
- Operating Temperature: Over 100 million degrees Celsius
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107votesIt is a tokamak fusion reactor located in China that has achieved some of the highest plasma temperatures and pressures in the world. It has the potential to produce unlimited energy.DescriptionJ-TEXT (Jiangsu Tokamak with Extreme Superconducting Toroidal Field) is an advanced fusion reactor designed to research and develop plasma physics, tokamak confinement, and steady-state operation. It is located in Jiangsu Province, China. The reactor was developed by the Hefei Institute of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
- Plasma Current: 400,000 amperes
- Magnetic Field Strength: 3.5 tesla
- Plasma Temperature: 100 million degrees Celsius
- Major Radius: 1.2 meters
- Minor Radius: 0.35 meters
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Ranking factors for advanced fusion reactor
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Plasma confinementThe ability of the reactor to confine and sustain a stable plasma at the extremely high temperatures and pressures required for fusion. This is typically achieved using magnetic confinement in tokamak or stellarator designs, or inertial confinement in laser-based approaches.
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Energy productionThe efficiency and overall output of energy generated by the fusion reaction. This includes factors like the fusion gain (Q), which is the ratio of fusion power output to input heating power, and the total energy produced over the device's operational lifetime.
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Safety and environmental factorsThe potential risks associated with the operation of the fusion reactor, including radiation risks, waste management, and environmental impact. Fusion reactors inherently produce far less radioactive waste than fission reactors, but some reactor designs may still generate significant amounts of high-level waste or activation products.
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Scalability and economicsThe feasibility of scaling up the reactor design to a commercial level, taking into account factors such as construction and operational costs, maintenance requirements, and potential contribution to the global energy grid. This also includes the potential for technological innovations, like advanced materials or improved confinement techniques, to make fusion power more economically viable.
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Technology readinessThe current stage of development, testing, and proof-of-concept demonstrations for the reactor design. This can be assessed through factors like Engineering Readiness Level (ERL) or Technology Readiness Level (TRL), which give an indication of how mature the technology is, from initial concept to commercial deployment.
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International collaborationThe extent to which the reactor project is supported by and benefits from international cooperation and collaboration, such as ITER (the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) or major multinational efforts like the European Union's EUROfusion program.
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Scientific contributionThe degree to which the reactor advances the fundamental understanding of fusion science and contributes to the global fusion research community, through publications, conferences, and other forms of knowledge exchange.
About this ranking
This is a community-based ranking of the most advanced fusion reactor. We do our best to provide fair voting, but it is not intended to be exhaustive. So if you notice something or reactor is missing, feel free to help improve the ranking!
Statistics
- 1649 views
- 182 votes
- 10 ranked items
Voting Rules
A participant may cast an up or down vote for each reactor once every 24 hours. The rank of each reactor is then calculated from the weighted sum of all up and down votes.
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More information on most advanced fusion reactor
As the world continues to search for a sustainable and reliable source of energy, fusion reactors have emerged as a promising candidate. Fusion is the process where two atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing large amounts of energy in the process. The challenge lies in creating the conditions where fusion can occur at a large scale, and this is where advanced fusion reactors come in. These reactors use various technologies to create the necessary high temperatures and pressures to initiate fusion reactions. Some of the most advanced fusion reactors currently under development include the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in France, the Wendelstein 7-X in Germany, and the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in the United States. These reactors hold immense potential for the future of energy, and the race to develop the most advanced fusion reactor is well underway.
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