A late article in Physics World highlighted that derivative products from big science are ubiquitous, with a scale and impact far exceeding expectations. The World Wide Web (WWW) is the most famous example, having profoundly influenced human society. Today, products derived from the fusion industry are equally noteworthy. Approximately 40 companies worldwide are now working towards commercial fusion power, and other applications of fusion technology are also highly anticipated
Founded in 2009, Tokamak Energy in the UK is dedicated to researching and developing fusion technology. The company recently established the TE Magnetics division, aiming to commercialize its high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology.
Ongoing Breakthroughs in HTS Magnet Technology
Tokamak Energy has achieved significant accomplishments in HTS magnet technology. Founded by scientists and researchers from the UK Atomic Energy Authority, the company not only focuses on tokamak fusion power but also holds over 200 patents in HTS magnet manufacturing. Tokamak Energy is collaborating with the U.S. Department of Energy through the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to develop magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) thrusters. MHD thrusters use electric fields to accelerate conductive fluids, generating Lorentz force when a magnetic field is applied perpendicular to the flow direction. In the 1990s, Mitsubishi in Japan constructed the "Yamato 1" ship driven by a prototype MHD thruster, but due to technical limitations, the magnetic field strength was only 4 T, allowing the ship to reach a maximum speed of just 15 kilometres per hour.
Since then, HTS magnet technology has made continuous breakthroughs. In 2019, Tokamak Energy successfully manufactured a magnet capable of producing a 24 T magnetic field at a temperature of 20 K. This magnet is based on superconducting barium-copper-oxide tape technology and is designed for the poloidal field coils of tokamak fusion devices.
This achievement not only draws attention but also opens doors for enhancing MHD performance and exploring other application areas. Consequently, the company established the TE Magnetics division to focus on commercialising HTS magnet technology. According to a recent report by Future Market Insights, this technology's market value reached an astonishing $3.3 billion in 2023.
Exciting Applications of HTS Magnets in Aviation
Large aircraft have extremely high requirements for power density, which traditional non-superconducting motors struggle to meet. Although HTS-powered aircraft may seem far-fetched, industry giants like Airbus are already exploring this area. Airbus has been developing prototype engines using HTS technology and has built a 500-kilowatt power system through its ASCEND program, with motors driven by currents supplied by HTS. Airbus believes that the low-temperature technology required for cooling the tapes can be powered by liquid hydrogen fuel, which will generate electricity in fuel cells. The advantages of superconducting systems lie in their significantly higher efficiency compared to traditional technologies, providing immense power density and paving the way for lighter, more efficient aircraft.
Further efforts are needed before such technologies can be commercialised. However, Airbus has taken a promising first step, and reliable HTS magnets are crucial for the success of this endeavour.
Startorus Fusion’s HTS Magnet Development Meets Practical Requirements
A Chinese commercial fusion company, Startorus Fusion, has also made significant progress. The company has mastered the core technologies for the design and manufacture of HTS non-insulated magnets, as well as independently developed magnet excitation control, operational status monitoring, and quench protection systems. The multiple HTS magnets developed have remained stable in generating target magnetic fields after numerous thermal cycles, meeting practical operational indicators for users. Notably, the SH-150 Helmholtz magnet has become the main testing platform for the company's plasma technology development.
Go to the Startorus Fusion website for detailed product information, and companies with related technical needs are welcome to inquire and discuss.
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