Chapter 217 Tokamak, a big problem
At the gate of Plasma Institute, leaders of Li Jiangan, Zhao Zhanyou and other research institutes were standing here, welcoming a young man who had just stepped out of a car in front of him.
As for this young man, he is naturally Xiao Yi.
"Professor Xiao, welcome to your visit again!"
Li Jiangan walked up and shook hands with Xiao Yi.
"Hello, Academician Li."
Xiao Yi also nodded to him, and then saw Zhao Zhanyou next to him and said hello, "Director Zhao."
Zhao Zhanyou smiled at Xiao Yi.
This time Xiao Yi was also invited by them to come to Plasma Institute. As for the reason, it was naturally his paper.
"Professor Xiao, I have read your paper. I really don't know how to describe the multi-fluid NS equation model you developed in that paper."
After Li Jiangan said hello, he began to praise Xiao Yi's paper.
"That model can not only help us analyze Greenwald limit, but also help us study various issues such as the internal structural layout of Tokamak device. I think that with your ability, you are more than enough to serve as a researcher at our Plasma Institute."
Zhao Zhanyou next to him also nodded repeatedly and said, "Yes! Professor Xiao, you probably can't imagine how excited our academician Li was after we read your paper that day. He kept saying that you are the dawn of the future of nuclear fusion in our country. He also said that if our country can achieve nuclear fusion in 50 years, it must fall on you."
Li Jiangan next to him glared at Zhao Zhanyou and said, "Don't talk nonsense here, just talk about it in private. Aren't you putting pressure on Professor Xiao by saying it now?"
Then he said apologetically to Xiao Yi: "Sorry, Professor Xiao, this person has always been like this, a bit frivolous. Don't take this to heart."
"Of course, I do think that if you can study nuclear fusion, you may really be able to make a huge breakthrough in this field."
"Just because you are able to create such a model in order to solve Greenwald limit, I think this nuclear fusion should be conquered by you!"
Xiao Yi looked at Academician Li's sincere expression with a look of helplessness and amusement.
These two people sang a double act...
Isn't it a little too easy to see through?
Last time I wanted to invite him to cooperate and create a new Tokamak device. Now I invite him this time in the hope that he can join the research on nuclear fusion?
Hmm...
He smiled and said, "Haha, thank you Academician Li for your trust. Of course, controllable nuclear fusion is indeed a difficult subject. If you really want to devote your mind to this matter, it will take a lot of time. I personally prefer to do it step by step."
Hearing what Xiao Yi said, Li Jiangan could only say helplessly, "What you said does make sense. Such a problem cannot be solved overnight."
Xiao Yi smiled and said, "Okay, you two, did you invite me over today to verify Greenwald limit's affairs?"
Li Jiangan came to his senses, then smiled and said, "Oh, yes, yes, I almost forgot about the real thing."
"Then let's go to the research institute now."
Then they stopped talking nonsense and entered the research institute.
The main purpose of Xiao Yi coming here today is to discuss how to verify the new Greenwald limit proposed in the Xiao Yi paper.
In physics, a theory is just a theory. Whether it can be implemented ultimately depends on the experimental results.
As for how to verify it experimentally, you need to ignite the fusion reactor.
"We happened to be planning to conduct an ignition experiment before the Chinese New Year. There are about ten days left. Now that we have the results of your paper, we can just do a verification and get a top publication."
After arriving in the office, Li Jiangan said to Xiao Yi, and at the same time he took out a piece of information and handed it to Xiao Yi.
Xiao Yi took the information and took a look.
What is written in this document is about the plan to verify the new Greenwald limit.
The plan is actually relatively simple, it is nothing more than controlling the internal plasma density.
The first is parameter selection. Based on the simulation results, select the appropriate plasma current and small radius to achieve the new Greenwald limit density.
The current tentative plasma current is 1MA and the minimum radius is 0.45 meters, which is also based on the design parameters of the Oriental Hyperring.
When waiting for ignition, the plasma discharge is performed according to the set parameters, and the plasma density is gradually increased until the new Greenwald limit density is reached.
"That is to say, under these parameters, in the Eastern Hyperring, the density of plasma must reach 2.12×10^20/m^3, which is equivalent to reaching the new Greenwald limit."
Xiao Yi made a simple calculation in his mind and came up with this result.
"Yes." Li Jiangan nodded, but then he also smiled and said, "Of course, in fact, as long as it can exceed 1.57, it will be fine. After all, every part exceeded after that is a new limit."
Xiao Yi also smiled.
The original Greenwald limit is almost 1.57×10^20/m^3 on the Oriental Hyperloop.
Now after increasing by 35%, it is 2.12×10^20/m^3.
Therefore, as long as it can exceed 1.57, it is indeed a new limit.
He said, "Then I'm looking forward to the day of ignition."
"Well, I'll definitely invite you to visit when the time comes." Li Jiangan said, "By the way, I'll let you experience pressing the ignition button."
"Oh?" Xiao Yi became interested. "It does sound interesting, like igniting a rocket?"
Li Jiangan smiled and said, "That's not the case. The ignition of other people's rockets is real ignition. Our ignition is just passing in electric current. Then after a few dozen seconds, the plasma temperature in the cavity will reach 100 million degrees. Well... the temperature is much higher than that of the rocket, but it doesn't look as menacing as the rocket."
"Otherwise, when the rocket is ignited, it can attract so many people to watch. Our nuclear fusion ignition is the only one who can watch it here."
Xiao Yi laughed and said, "If you announce the ignition time, maybe you can attract a lot of people to come and watch."
"Forget it then."
Li Jiangan shook his head, "We can't stand that many people in this place, and when people hear that nuclear fusion may cause radiation hazards, they run away a long time ago."
"That's true."
Xiao Yi shrugged.
Nuclear fusion will of course produce radiation, and the neutrons generated during the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction are a very harmful radiation source.
However, Tokamak device is usually surrounded by a layer of neutron shielding, so there is basically no need to worry about nuclear radiation.
Of course, they know from a scientific perspective that these radiations will not harm the human body, but for other people, of course, they can run as far as they want.
It's like there was a place where a nuclear power plant was going to be built, but when the surrounding residents learned about it, they all expressed their opposition. In the end, the nuclear power plant couldn't be built anymore.
However, from the public's point of view, this kind of thing is normal. After all, not many people want to live next to a nuclear power plant. Even if it is really safe, they will feel a little uncomfortable.
"Professor Xiao."
At this time, a voice came from the door, and Zhao Zhanyou walked in with a pile of files in his hands.
"This is what you want, the overall structural data of our Eastern Super Ring."
With a click, Zhao Zhanyou put these files on the table, patted them, and said to Xiao Yi, "This is our Plasma Institute's confidential file! If nothing else, just find a reliable company, and as long as they have this information, they can recreate an Eastern Hyperloop."
Xiao Yi's eyes lit up. He came here today for another purpose, which was to get this detailed structural information about the Eastern Super Ring.
With this information, he can activate the [Perfect Engineering] ability to study Tokamak device more carefully.
Without any nonsense, he quickly stepped forward, took down the first file, and took out stacks of information from it.
These materials describe in detail the structural design of each part of the Oriental Super Ring, as well as various engineering drawings, etc., down to a screw.
Indeed, as Zhao Zhanyou said, if you come to a construction company and build according to this, you can build another Eastern Hyperring.
"Thank you."
Xiao Yi said.
Zhao Zhanyou waved his hand. "You're welcome, even though I said that, this thing still had some value at the time, but now it has been so many years, these design drawings are nothing. Even if they are made public, it is estimated that no research institute will actually build it according to this."
"Just take it back to Science Island Laboratory and read it. Just bring it back after you finish reading it. Anyway, just don't lose it."
Xiao Yi nodded, but his eyes were still fixed on the contents of the information.
In Zhao Zhanyou's view, this thing has no value, but in his view, it is of infinite value.
"Then I won't disturb you here. I will take this information back now and study it carefully." Xiao Yi said, "I will come back when the official ignition is launched."
"Okay." Zhao Zhanyou nodded.
Soon, Xiao Yi packed up the information and took it away.
Looking at the car gradually going away, at the gate of Plasma Institute, Zhao Zhanyou said with some confusion, "Speaking of which, why does Xiao Yi want that information?"
Li Jiangan said with a smile, "Maybe he will develop a new Tokamak device later?"
Zhao Zhanyou shook his head. "The current structure of the tokamak has basically been finalized. Even if it is optimized, it can't be optimized much, right?"
"Who knows?" Li Jiangan said, spreading his hands. "You can never imagine how much structure can be changed. It's like from a topological point of view, people are also like donuts."
Zhao Zhanyou pinched his head, shook his head and said, "Forget it, I'd better not think about this thing. I didn't even learn geometry very well back then, let alone topology."
Li Jiangan smiled, then turned around and walked into the research institute again.
"Okay, if you don't want to think about it, then don't think about it. Go back. You still have to prepare for the ignition when the time comes."
"What's more, by inviting Xiao Yi here today, we have initially achieved our goal."
"He did become interested in nuclear fusion."
Time passed quietly.
After Xiao Yi returned to Science Island Laboratory with that pile of information, he devoted his time to studying the structure of the Eastern Hyperring.
Based on the information above, he slowly sketched out every detail in Perfect Engineering Lieutenant General.
It took about 4 days, but he finally read all the information and completely constructed an Eastern Super Ring in his mind.
"Finally got it done."
In the office, Xiao Yi closed his eyes and carefully observed the complex structure in his mind.
What you need to know is that the complexity of Tokamak device ranks among the best among all scientific instruments and is the pinnacle of modern scientific instruments.
It is obviously very difficult for one person to completely understand such a structure.
But fortunately, a cheater is totally fine.
Through the effects provided by Perfect Engineering, Xiao Yi can fully grasp and control every detail of the oriental hyperring in the mind.
"Well... let's forget about things like the first wall material for now. The most important thing is the control of the plasma flow."
Xiao Yi begins to control changes in the overall structure, the most important thing is the magnetic field.
Thinking of this, he also began to control the changes in the magnetic field in his mind.
However, due to the limitations of the tokamak structure, no matter how it is optimized, it will face a very important problem.
"How to harness fusion energy?"
Xiao Yi's brows frowned.
As the most successful fusion device today, Tokamak device's biggest advantage lies in its constraint control of high-temperature plasma. It can accurately control high-temperature plasma in an annular cavity. No matter how high the temperature of the plasma is or how fast it is, it will be controlled by the magnetic field.
However, its advantage only lies in constraints.
It can only be restrained but cannot be used. It is like burning a fire to keep warm, and to prevent the fire from extinguishing, completely covering it so that the temperature inside cannot spread.
Obviously, this is stupid.
As a result, even boiling water cannot be done properly.
Xiao Yi groped his chin, frowned and thought.
There is currently something called a tritium breeding blanket, in which lithium can react with high-energy neutrons to produce tritium, which provides fuel for nuclear fusion and absorbs heat. This heat can then be transferred outside to produce so-called boiled water to generate electricity.
But obviously there is a problem. When these tritium breeding blankets react with high-energy neutrons, they will inevitably be lost and gradually lose their effectiveness. At this time, we must consider how to take out these breeding blankets and replace them with new ones when fusion occurs. We cannot stop the operation of the reactor as soon as they are damaged.
In addition, the most important energy of nuclear fusion lies not only in these high-energy neutrons, but also in those plasmas.
How to use these high-temperature plasmas?
The exchange of heat still requires direct contact. It cannot be exchanged solely by the energy brought by thermal radiation. Direct contact will cause losses.
As for MHD generator, although it is also a good idea, it still faces a key problem: how to control high-temperature plasma to pass through MHD generator?
With all kinds of questions lingering around, Xiao Yi frowned more and more.
As he ran more simulations in his mind.
Eventually, he came to a conclusion.
"Tokamaks... are very problematic."