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Startorus Fusion has recently made significant progress in several aspects, including spherical tokamak operation and control, plasma performance enhancement, high-temperature superconducting magnet development, and fusion-derived technology industrialization. These advancements not only validate Startorus Fusion's comprehensive independent research and development capabilities from concept verification to engineering implementation, but also lay a solid foundation for the research and construction of the next-generation fusion-grade device, CTRFR-1.
First in the World to Achieve an Optimized Spherical Tokamak Plasma Configuration
With the support of advanced self-developed algorithms for spherical tokamak discharge design and plasma equilibrium inversion, Startorus Fusion has recently become the first in the world to achieve an optimized spherical tokamak plasma configuration. This configuration boasts advantages such as higher density, better confinement, and stability, showing promising prospects for a reactor, albeit requiring more stringent plasma control and magnet power capabilities (based on global published paper data available at the time of the first release of this article).
The successful realization of this optimized configuration not only provides crucial insights for the company's next-generation fusion device, CTRFR-1, but also marks another breakthrough for Startorus Fusion in spherical tokamak operation and control, following repetitive reconnection discharges and divertor configuration discharges. This achievement underscores Startorus Fusion's end-to-end independent research and development prowess in "physics-experiment-engineering," reaching new heights.
Left: Designed Discharge Configuration Right: Experimental Discharge Configuration
Plasma performance has been enhanced, with the plasma current doubling.
With enhanced operational and control capabilities, Startorus Fusion has significantly improved the performance of spherical tokamak plasmas in recent times. The company has achieved a doubling of plasma current, a more than two-fold increase in electron temperature, with the highest electron temperature exceeding 1.2 keV.
HTS Magnets Meet Practical Requirements
Recently, Startorus Fusion has reliably mastered the design methods and manufacturing processes for no-insulation HTS magnets. The company has independently developed operational monitoring and protection systems for HTS magnets, ensuring long-term stable operation. Several HTS magnets have demonstrated stable performance after multiple thermal cycles, meeting practical requirements and ready for everyday use by customers.
Among these, the SH-150 Helmholtz magnet can provide a uniform magnetic field with a 150 mm aperture, serving as a testing platform for the development of technologies such as helicon plasma sources and high-current density plasma guns for Startorus Fusion.
This development signifies that Startorus Fusion now possesses a relatively mature capability for the integration of multiple systems including vacuum, cryogenics, measurement and control, and power supply related to high-temperature superconducting magnets. This lays a solid foundation for the manufacture and testing of the first toroidal magnet for the fusion-grade spherical tokamak, CTRFR-1.
Helmholtz Coil Test Bench
Fusion-Derived Technology Products Industrialization and Promotion
In addition to advancing rapidly in fusion engineering, Startorus Fusion's independently developed high-bandwidth/general isolation amplifiers, integrators, and other signal conditioning devices have been routinely used in fusion experiments over a long period, enduring various harsh environments. These devices can find wide applications in relevant scenarios, promoting the industrialization of fusion-derived technologies.
Furthermore, Startorus Fusion has also developed plasma diagnostics closely related to device operation and physical research, such as Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Ion Doppler Spectroscopy (IDS), Spark Optical Emission Spectroscopy (Spark OES), and Electrostatic Probe Controllers. Detailed product information can be found on the [Startorus Fusion official website -> Product Center]. Companies with relevant technological needs are welcome to inquire and negotiate.
The year 2024 is a crucial period for the development of Startorus Fusion's next-generation fusion-grade device, CTRFR-1, with simultaneous advancements in plasma physics exploration and HTS engineering, achieving solid interim results. Currently, Startorus Fusion's R&D team comprises over a hundred people, spanning multiple disciplines, with capabilities covering the entire spectrum of physics, experimentation, engineering, and manufacturing processes. The team possesses robust research and engineering capabilities, effectively supporting the physical research and engineering development of CTRFR-1, while concurrently driving the industrialization of fusion-derived technologies.
