Home / Science / CFS Installs First Magnet for Fusion Power Reactor
CFS Installs First Magnet for Fusion Power Reactor
6 Jan
Summary
- Commonwealth Fusion Systems installed the first magnet for its Sparc fusion reactor.
- The reactor will use 18 powerful magnets to confine superheated plasma.
- CFS is working with Nvidia and Siemens to develop a digital twin of the reactor.
Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has achieved a major milestone by installing the first magnet in its Sparc fusion reactor, a demonstration device slated for activation next year. This initial magnet is part of a total of 18 D-shaped magnets that will form a doughnut-like structure, generating a powerful magnetic field to confine and compress superheated plasma.
The company anticipates installing all 18 magnets by the end of the summer. Each magnet weighs approximately 24 tons and will produce a 20 tesla magnetic field, requiring cooling to -253˚ C (-423˚ F) to conduct over 30,000 amps of current. Inside the reactor, plasma will reach temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees C.
To refine its processes, CFS is partnering with Nvidia and Siemens to develop a digital twin of the Sparc reactor. This advanced simulation will allow for constant comparison between the digital and physical models, enabling faster learning and experimentation. CFS has secured close to $3 billion in funding to date, with plans for a commercial-scale power plant, Arc, on the horizon.
