SPARC (tokamak)

42°32′37″N 71°37′38″W / 42.5437°N 71.6271°W / 42.5437; -71.6271

This article is about the tokamak. For the processor architecture, see SPARC. For other uses, see SPARC (disambiguation).
SPARC
Soonest/Smallest Possible ARC
Device typeTokamak
LocationDevens, Massachusetts, United States
AffiliationCommonwealth Fusion Systems
MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center
Technical specifications
Major radius1.85 m
Minor radius0.57 m
Plasma volume20 m3
Magnetic field12.2 T
Heating power25 MW
Fusion power(140 MW)
Discharge duration(10 s)
Plasma current(8.7 MA)
Plasma temperature(80×106 K)
History
Date(s) of construction2021–present
Year(s) of operation2026 (projected; first plasma)

SPARC is a tokamak under development by Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC).[1] Funding has come from Eni,[2] Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Khosla Ventures, Temasek, Equinor, Devonshire Investors, and others.[3]

Through SPARC, CFS plans to verify the technology and physics required to build a power plant based on the ARC fusion power plant concept.[1] SPARC is designed to achieve this with margin in excess of breakeven and may be capable of achieving up to 140 MW of fusion power for 10-second bursts despite its relatively compact size.[2][1]

The project is scheduled to start operations in 2026, with the goal of demonstrating net power (Q > 1) in 2027.[4] It was previously scheduled for operation in 2025[5][6] after completing a magnet test in 2021.[7][8]

History

The SPARC project was announced in 2018 with a planned completion in 2025.[5] The name was chosen as an abbreviation of "Smallest Possible ARC", where ARC stands for "affordable, robust, compact".[9] In March 2021, CFS announced that it planned to build SPARC at its campus in Devens, Massachusetts.[10]

In September 2021, the project successfully tested a prototype toroidal high-field coil, achieving a record for high-temperature superconducting magnets, with a field strength of 20 T at the temperature of 20 K.[11]

In November 2024, a prototype of the reactor's central solenoid was demonstrated, and the building housing SPARC in Devens was largely completed, with assembly of the SPARC tokamak in early stages.[4]

In January 2026, the first of 18 toroidal field magnets was completed and placed on an assembly jig in the building housing SPARC.[12][13]

Technology

SPARC uses yttrium barium copper oxide (YBCO) high-temperature superconducting magnets that retain superconductivity at temperatures as high as 77 K (optimally at 10 K).[14] The resulting plasmas are expected to generate at least twice as much energy as is required to sustain themselves at high temperatures (200 million K),[15] giving a fusion gain Q > 2, with an expected Q ≈ 11.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Creely, A. J.; Greenwald, M. J.; Ballinger, S. B.; Brunner, D.; Canik, J.; Doody, J.; Fülöp, T.; Garnier, D. T.; Granetz, R.; Gray, T. K.; Holland, C. (2020). "Overview of the SPARC tokamak". Journal of Plasma Physics. 86 (5). Bibcode:2020JPlPh..86e8602C. doi:10.1017/S0022377820001257. hdl:1721.1/136131. ISSN 0022-3778.
  2. ^ a b "MIT and newly formed company launch novel approach to fusion power". MIT News. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Retrieved 2018-06-15.
  3. ^ Rathi, Akshat (26 September 2018). "In search of clean energy, investments in nuclear-fusion startups are heating up". Quartz. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  4. ^ a b Crownhart, Casey (1 October 2024). "Inside a fusion energy facility". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  5. ^ a b "Commonwealth Fusion Systems raises $115m". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2022-03-05.
  6. ^ Lavars, Nick (2021-09-09). "World's strongest fusion magnet brings new power to nuclear pursuit". New Atlas. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  7. ^ "Validating the physics behind the new MIT-designed fusion experiment". MIT News. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 29 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-30.
  8. ^ Fountain, Henry (2020-09-29). "Compact Nuclear Fusion Reactor Is 'Very Likely to Work,' Studies Suggest". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  9. ^ MIT's Pathway to Fusion Energy (IAP 2017) - Zach Hartwig, 6 February 2017, retrieved 2024-02-12
  10. ^ Chesto, Jon (2021-03-03). "MIT energy startup homes in on fusion, with plans for 47-acre site in Devens". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2021-03-03.
  11. ^ "MIT-designed project achieves major advance toward fusion energy". MIT News. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 8 September 2021. Retrieved 2021-09-09.
  12. ^ Commonwealth Fusion Systems (2026-01-06). The first cutting-edge, super strong magnet for SPARC is complete. Retrieved 2026-01-06 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ Commonwealth Fusion Systems (2026-01-06). "CFS delivers its first fusion magnet". Retrieved 2026-01-06.
  14. ^ Clery, Daniel (2021-03-03). "Fusion startup plans reactor with small but powerful superconducting magnets". Science. AAAS. Retrieved 2021-06-14.
  15. ^ "MIT Validates Science Behind New Nuclear Fusion Reactor Design". www.greentechmedia.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020.
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