Inside The UKs Breakthrough Fusion Reactor - First Light Fusion

Dr Ben Miles・2 minutes read

Scientists and startups are working on achieving operational fusion power by the end of the decade, with First Light Fusion in Oxford using a compression approach involving high-speed projectiles. First Light Fusion's projectile fusion aims to ignite fusion and produce energy by driving light atoms together at ultra-high pressures, facing challenges in achieving uniform compression around the fuel.

Insights

  • First Light Fusion in Oxford is pioneering fusion power through projectile fusion, aiming to ignite fusion by driving light atoms together at high pressures.
  • The team faces challenges in achieving uniform compression around the fuel due to exerting force from one side only, necessitating innovative solutions like the BFG gun and amplifier inspired by the pistol shrimp's cavitation ability.

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Recent questions

  • How are scientists working on fusion power?

    By using a compression approach with high-speed projectiles.

  • What is the role of the BFG in fusion power research?

    To test fusion design parts and study amplifier designs.

  • How do high-speed cameras aid fusion experiments?

    By capturing rapid events occurring in nanoseconds.

  • What is the significance of the pulse power machine in fusion research?

    It stores and discharges energy quickly for high-velocity projectiles.

  • Why is machine longevity important for fusion power plants?

    To ensure firing once every 90 seconds for operational efficiency.

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Summary

00:00

"Projectile Fusion: Innovating Energy Production Technology"

  • Fusion is a key focus for energy production, with scientists and startups striving to achieve operational fusion power by the end of the decade.
  • First Light Fusion in Oxford is working on fusion power using a compression approach involving a projectile fired at 60 kilometers per second.
  • The compression process involves a Piston compressing hydrogen gas before slamming into a central breach, creating a second projectile at seven kilometers per second.
  • First Light Fusion's approach, called projectile fusion, aims to drive light atoms together at ultra-high pressures to ignite fusion and produce energy.
  • The team faces the challenge of exerting force from one side only, requiring innovative solutions to achieve uniform compression around the fuel.
  • The gun used by First Light Fusion, nicknamed the BFG, tests parts of their fusion design and is crucial for studying amplifier designs.
  • The amplifier is inspired by the pistol shrimp's ability to create cavitation in water, transforming the incoming projectile's force into a uniform force around the fuel.
  • Data collection from experiments is challenging due to the rapid events occurring in nanoseconds, requiring precise timing and high-speed cameras.
  • First Light Fusion's pulse power machine stores and discharges energy quickly to launch high-velocity projectiles for their inertial fusion approach.
  • The team is working on achieving the necessary 60 kilometers per second projectile speeds through innovative projectile design and magnetic field manipulation.

14:51

"Railgun Technology: Longevity, Power, and Precision"

  • Rails need to survive for multiple shots in railguns, requiring magnetic forces lower than rail material strength.
  • Longer acceleration distance in railguns results in 20-meter long railguns to achieve velocity.
  • Opting to replace rails after each shot leads to significantly higher forces and acceleration.
  • Capacitors in the machine are connected in parallel with 192 capacitors and half that number of switches.
  • Spark gap switches in the machine use dry air to control electrical properties for current flow.
  • Each switch in the machine handles about 50 kiloamps of current, equivalent to 10 lightning bolts.
  • Machine longevity is crucial for inertial fusion power plants, needing to fire once every 90 seconds.
  • Machine four, a future prototype, will be 72 meters across with 6600 capacitors, aiming for gain experiments.
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