China wants to build the world's first nuclear reactor with fusion ignition

China's Sichuan province could host the world's first nuclear reactor with fusion ignition.

Here's What We Know

Construction of a pulsed hybrid fusion-nuclear power station will begin in 2025. Apparently, China plans to complete all the work in a short time, as the reactor is scheduled to start up in 2028.

The station is called the Z-FFR. It will be able to create a current of 50 million A, which should be enough for fusion. The released energy will not be withdrawn. Instead, it will be redirected to start the fission reaction in the fuel. After that, the energy will go to the turbines in the form of heat, as it happens in traditional nuclear reactors.

Despite the fact that Chinese scientists are already calling the future hybrid unit the world's first nuclear reactor with thermonuclear ignition, specialists will have to solve a number of issues to implement the conceived project. In particular, to create conductors that can withstand the prohibitive current, and laser switches to quickly change the channels of energy flow.

Source: scmp

Image: Newsweek