Chapter 359: No, there are bad people among the crowd!
On the other side, the Germanic country.
At the Planck Institute of Plasma Physics, Professor Tillmann Lent is communicating with the managers of the institute.
The Planck Institute for Plasma Physics is a branch research institute under the name of the Max Planck Institute, which is a large basic research institution that ranks among the top five or even top three in the world.
This large institute was founded in 1948 and named after the famous physicist Max Planck.
Today, it has as many as 83 branch institutes and research institutions under its name, and its research fields include: astronomy, astrophysics, chemistry, biology, biology, solid-state research, genetics...
.Ecology, plant research, etc.
Covering almost all scientific research fields of the entire human civilization.
In this regard, even the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, research institutions, Helmholtz Association and other research institutions are inferior to it.
If we look at the overall research volume (not cited or affected), the Max Planck Institute is surpassed only by three research institutes in China: the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Russian Academy of Sciences and Harvard University.
From this point of view, it is enough to prove the status of this research institution in the scientific community.
In fact, this is exactly the case. Not to mention other things, just in the branch of the Institute of Plasma Physics, it has several controllable nuclear fusion reactors.
From tokamak devices, to stellarator devices, to pebble beds and inertial constraints, it has laser ignition devices.
Not only that, but even in the two areas of tokamak device and stellarator device, it has fully entered the second generation.
For example, the Wendelstein 7-X under its name, also called Helix-7X, set a long-lasting high-temperature plasma operation record of more than 100 seconds in 2018, and even more so at the end of 2019.
A record running time of a full six minutes.
This can be said to be a new world record for this type of stellarator, which no one has been able to break so far.
The new ASDEX device currently under construction has also refreshed the current configuration record of state-owned tokamak devices in terms of configuration, second only to the internationally joint ITER tokamak device.
In the research on controllable nuclear fusion, the Planck Institute of Plasma Physics has truly realized walking on multiple legs.
As for other fields, the United States has focused on inertial confinement and stellarators, while China has placed its bets on tokamak. In other fields, they are generally not as good as the Planck Institute of Plasma Physics.
Of course, this is also related to Europe's extreme thirst for energy.
In terms of oil and natural gas, they are extremely dependent on resources imported from Tsarist Russia. If there is a conflict in the future and Tsarist Russia closes this gap, then the entire Europe will be extremely uncomfortable.
Therefore, compared with the United States and China, Europe is more eager to find a new path in energy.
Including the previous transaction with China on "nuclear energy b radiation energy aggregation and conversion of electric energy technology", the same hope is that nuclear energy can solve the energy crisis.
...
In the conference room of the Planck Institute of Plasma Physics, Professor Tillman Lent is doing his best to report and persuade.
"Judging from the last operation of Helix-7, we have not achieved the ideal goal on the road of stellarator. Although the water-cooled divertor has played its role stably, the plasma in the chamber has Turbulence constraints still caused the first wall temperature to rise faster than expected over time."
"This is a problem of controlling plasma turbulence in the reactor chamber, which was communicated in the last report."
"We need stronger control methods, whether it is optimizing and adjusting the control model, or using stronger superconducting materials to create strong magnetic fields, these are all solutions."
Opposite the desk, a middle-aged man in a suit frowned and said: "There is no point in discussing these. What I need is a solution, rather than wasting time here with empty talk."
"You have to know that we don't have much time left. If we can't achieve operation for at least thirty minutes this year, the parliament will definitely cut investment in controllable nuclear fusion projects."
"Especially when the Ministry of Energy has already transferred from China to the 'nuclear energy b radiation energy concentration and conversion technology', it is obviously more worthwhile to withdraw investment from controllable nuclear fusion and invest in nuclear fission."
Professor Tillman Lunt nodded and said: "Of course, the purpose of inviting everyone here today is that we have found a feasible solution."
"any solution?"
Tillman Lunt: "Still related to Professor Xu who developed the 'nuclear energy b radiation energy concentration and conversion technology'!"
"Not long ago, the Chuanhai Institute of Materials under his name held a press conference on high-temperature superconducting materials. At the press conference, a new type of high-temperature superconducting material was announced, which can provide a critical magnetic field of more than 20T. That's more than three times the size of the superconducting materials we currently use."
"The critical magnetic field control of 20T can theoretically greatly enhance the control of plasma turbulence by our Helixite-7X."
"You should know that the stronger the constraining field, the more stable the operation of plasma turbulence will be."
"If we can trade this kind of high-temperature superconducting material, it will be easy to achieve a running time of more than thirty minutes. Even calculated from the data on paper, with this material, we can even break through the running time of one hour! "
"If we can do this, we will have enough capital to continue to ask for scientific research funds from Parliament and the European Union."
Hearing this, another middle-aged man across the desk tapped his fingers lightly on the table and said: "I have read relevant news about the report on high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials. Since the announcement, Judging from the data, the performance is indeed excellent.”
"However, Professor Xu will probably not export such important superconducting materials. In other words, even if he wants to export, China will stop it, right? Or at least it needs to meet China's internal needs first. Will consider exporting."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! "What we lack now is time, we only have one year in 2020."
Professor Tillman Lunt smiled and said: "You can leave this to me. I contacted Professor Xu two days ago. If we make some concessions, he can provide us with it before June 2020."
A batch of materials."
"What conditions?"
"He wants our old ASDEX unit that we decommissioned!"
Hearing this, the middle-aged supervisor asked curiously: "What does he need the ASDEX device for? Has he also started researching controllable nuclear fusion?"
"If I remember correctly, China has a tokamak device that is not weaker than our ASDEX device, right?"
Professor Tillman Lunt nodded and said: "Indeed, the performance of China's EAST device is stronger than the old ASDEX device from the data."
"but......."
After a pause, he smiled and said: "You know, the leader of China's controllable nuclear fusion is not him, but another academician named Chen Mingji."
"Compared to ours, the academic monopoly in that country is more serious, so now Professor Xu is running into some troubles. He is in urgent need of a fusion device with more comprehensive functions."
Hearing this, the middle-aged supervisor suddenly nodded. He understood what Professor Tillman Lunt said.
China's scientific research capabilities are actually very strong, but the internal factions are quite divided, and the phenomenon of one's own people causing trouble for one's own is far more common than in other countries.
Professor Tillman Lent continued: "But our old ASDEX device is not his only choice. After all, the Tokamak device was the mainstream route before, and many countries are studying this."
"When I was talking to him about this two days ago, he revealed that he was also in contact with the Alcatel C-Mod compact fusion reactor in the United States, which is currently out of operation."
Here, Tillman Lunt used a little trick to force a sense of urgency among senior executives through Xu Chuan's contact with other sellers.
After all, they need a superconducting material with better performance to provide a stronger magnetic field to confine the plasma to achieve their goals and ensure that they are not defunded by the parliament.
However, in fact, Xu Chuan has not yet contacted Alcatel.
Sure enough, after hearing what he said, the middle-aged manager fell into deep thought.
After thinking for a while, he said: "The old ASDEX device is not an object that cannot be sold or traded, but it is of high value. We spent hundreds of millions when we built it. If we only trade high-temperature superconducting materials,
, it will be a big loss.”
"In addition, Professor Xu's high-temperature superconducting materials are currently only in the laboratory and cannot be mass-produced. Are you sure he can provide a batch of superconducting materials sufficient to meet the spiral 7X transformation before June?"
Hearing this, Tillman Lunt suddenly felt a sense of joy in his heart. He knew that since he didn't refuse directly, it meant that there was talk.
However, he did not show it on his face. Instead, he thought for a while and then said: "Indeed, even if the old ASDEX device is retired, it is still quite advanced."
"Well, I will talk to Professor Xu again. If he is interested, he will need to pay at least a suitable amount of funds."
"As for the production issue, don't worry about it. We can write it in the contract. If he fails to provide materials in June, he will need to pay a large amount of liquidated damages."
"Although there may be some controversy at that time, I believe that with the capabilities of the Max Planck Institute, it will not be difficult to obtain this liquidated damages."
"In addition, our new ASDEX device is also under construction. If it can be negotiated, there may be a chance to replace it with more powerful superconducting materials."
The middle-aged manager thought for a while and said: "If that's the case, you can get in touch. But simply using superconducting materials and funds to trade is unacceptable to me or the Planck Plasma Institute."
"We can't sell the ASDEX device at a low price. Although it has been decommissioned, there is still a lot of advanced technology on it. According to the trading rules in the field of controllable nuclear fusion, technology is exchanged for technology."
"If we trade, the requirements need to be improved. We need to trade the technology of 'high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting material'."
In fact, in the field of controllable nuclear fusion, the sale of controllable nuclear fusion reactors is not an unprecedented thing. It can even be said that it is quite frequent.
Especially in the international cooperation ITER project, transactions between technology and technology, as well as technology and funds are particularly frequent.
After all, controllable nuclear fusion has been carried out for decades, especially in Europe, which has invested a lot in this area. The long-term burden of such a super project is difficult for even an economically powerful country like Germany to bear.
Then it is normal to use the technology produced to make some exchanges with countries that will later develop controllable nuclear fusion technology in exchange for scientific research funds and other technologies.
Projects like controllable nuclear fusion are always risky and no country can afford them.
Hearing this, Tillman Lunt frowned slightly and said: "I'm afraid this will be more difficult. After all, in the field of tokamak, China's capabilities are not weaker than ours."
"Well, let me take people to China. On the one hand, I can learn about high-temperature superconducting materials, and on the other hand, I can meet and communicate."
The middle-aged manager thought for a moment, nodded, and said: "No problem, let's talk first. Technology exchange technology is an unspoken rule for transactions in the field of controllable nuclear fusion. I believe Professor Xu should understand it."
Apart from anything else, he still has confidence in the capabilities of the Max Planck Institute, which gave him the confidence to trade the old ASDEX device.
Professor Xu's character is still guaranteed for now, at least there has never been any negative news.
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! If it weren’t for the internal leverage of that country’s own people, I’m afraid it would be difficult for them to trade high-temperature superconducting materials.
Of course, what the middle-aged supervisors didn’t expect was that there were ‘bad guys’ within themselves.
Tillman Lunt, the person in charge of the research progress of controllable nuclear fusion reactors, is the biggest bad guy.
It was obviously Xu Chuan who first proposed the deal, but when it came to his mouth, it became that the Planck Institute of Plasma Research needed high-temperature superconducting materials even more.
But overall, if the deal is suitable, the Planck Institute of Plasma Research will actually not lose money.
Professor Tillman Lunt is also wholeheartedly promoting the research and development of controllable nuclear fusion.
After all, the old ASDEX device has been decommissioned and can still be used for experiments. But in ten or twenty years, its fate will probably be that of a museum.
What's more, their focus is actually on the stellarator Helix-7X. If they can exchange retired products for key materials to advance the progress of the stellarator, it will be worthwhile.
...
After coming out of the conference room, Professor Tillman Lent returned to his office and couldn't wait to send an email to Xu Chuan.
After receiving the email, Xu Chuan had a smile on his face.
The communication with the Planck Institute of Plasma Research seems to be much smoother than he imagined. Perhaps there is hope for the old ASDEX device to be taken down.
It is not a problem to provide a batch of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials that are at least enough to upgrade Helixite-7X in June, and to pay some money.
The Qixia controllable nuclear fusion project has just started, and he has not spent much money on it yet. He will pay part of the funds in advance to get the old ASDEX device. After the results are achieved, he will be eligible to ask for more funds from the above.
He knows very well that in academia, results are more convincing than anything else at any time.
If he can push the operating time of controllable nuclear fusion to half an hour or even more than an hour, then the country will definitely support him fully.
Funding is naturally not an issue.
As for technical trading technology, this needs to be considered.
If there was a breakthrough in the optimization of high-temperature superconducting materials years ago, it would not be a loss to trade this old and defective superconducting technology for ASDEX devices.
After all, the divertor, water cooling equipment and other technologies on the ASDEX device are still quite advanced. Even if they are not as good as those used on the Helix-7X, they are still enough to surpass most equipment.
As for specific negotiations, if the initial communication is effective, let other people take responsibility and he can control the overall situation.
The Chinese New Year is about a month away now. If possible, he would like to take advantage of the time that Academician Zhang Pingxiang is still here this year to advance the optimization of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials.
It is not required to be optimized to the point where it can be stretched like a metal, but at least the brittleness and toughness must be improved so that it can be applied to some equipment where the environmental conditions are not so harsh.
If Academician Zhang Pingxiang leaves after the Chinese New Year, it will be much more difficult for him to make a breakthrough alone.
........
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