Chapter 404 High Energy Level Neutron Irradiation Experiment
The Daya Bay slow neutron irradiation experiment has been completed. Judging from the relevant test reports, this carbon composite material, which uses zirconia as an additive and catalyst, has excellent performance in resisting neutron irradiation.
Although it is only a slow neutron radiation detection in the low energy level region, the excellent data is enough to support Xu Chuan to turn on the Daybreak Fusion Device again for a deuterium and tritium ignition to test the resistance of this material to neutron radiation in a truly high energy level environment.
Able.
The research and development of first wall materials is itself a very difficult matter.
They would be lucky if they could find a way to the other side in the fog.
As for how far the other shore is, we will know after the real test is completed.
The relevant preparation work is being carried out in an orderly manner with the busy work of many engineers and researchers.
After a new year, the sleeping Dawn Fusion Reactor will be activated again, but we don’t know whether this time it will bring joyful good news or push them back into the fog of chaos.
At the same time, on the other side.
At the Planck Institute for Plasma Research in northern Germany, Europe.
A group of plasma physicists from various EU countries are discussing in a large main control room.
The advanced results achieved by the Daybreak Fusion Device have made the United States worry about its international status, and it has taken further measures and means.
Iter's seven member states have thus become six today.
Professor Xu also responded to this as always. The high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite material was a response to the cancellation of sales by iter and relevant member states.
I have to say that the United States is really a mess.
iter has been crumbling in recent years. It finally rekindled a little light of fusion, but then it was disturbed by the other party and was on the verge of collapse.
Maybe they think that by removing China from iter, they can stop and slow down the other party's research progress on controllable nuclear fusion.
But the person leading the Dawn Fusion Device forward is Professor Xu who is good at creating miracles. If only it were that simple.
Nowadays, iter has almost ceased to exist in name only. In Europe, after losing the opportunity to obtain high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials from that person, the Planck Institute of Plasma Research is the only one left.
Although the original transaction between the Planck Institute of Plasma and Professor Xu was technology rather than materials, the relevant contract also stipulated that high-temperature superconducting material technology was limited to the Planck Institute's own use.
Of course, there are many ways for them to get around this kind of contract agreement, but how can Germania and the Planck Institute of Plasma give up the advantages in their hands?
Wouldn't it be better for countries to pool their funding and resources to conduct research on their side?
Anyway, there are reasons, it’s just a matter of contract.
Based on this, other EU countries have no choice but to cooperate with the Planck Institute for Plasma Research.
It has to be said that after the entire European Union came together as one, with sufficient scientific research funds and the support of a large number of scientific researchers, Helix 7 has made quite rapid progress in the field of controllable nuclear fusion.
Originally, it had to risk damage to the first wall in order to barely operate the high-density plasma for nearly an hour. However, after researchers from other countries joined in, especially mathematicians from France, they were working on Helix 7.
After redesigning a control scheme for high-density plasma turbulence, the running time is close to the two-hour record set by Dawn.
After seeing hope, the Planck Institute of Plasma Research also followed Xu Chuan's footsteps and began to delve into the fusion of deuterium and tritium raw materials.
Unfortunately, the problem of neutron irradiation has always been like a roadblock standing in the way of progress.
Even if experts in the field of materials are gathered together, they are still unable to advance even a small amount of distance on this road.
Of course, the first wall material itself is a super difficult problem, and it is normal for there to be no progress in a short period of time. However, this is a bit unacceptable to the various sponsor countries behind Spiral Stone 7.
In the control room, his eyes were locked on the equipment that was gradually stopping running through the surveillance screen. Robert Mack, the supervisor standing in the main control room, looked at Tillman Lunt who was standing aside.
"When can we follow in the footsteps of China and conduct ignition experiments?"
Hearing this question, Tillman Lunt couldn't help but frowned and said with a headache: "There is no guarantee that there has been no progress in the irradiation problem on the first wall. If this problem cannot be solved, forced ignition will have a negative impact on the spiral stone."
7 caused great damage.”
"What about neutron-resistant materials? Is there any progress?" Robert Mack continued to ask: "I always need some results to explain to the superiors."
Hearing this, Tillman Lunt smiled bitterly and said: "Many experiments have been done on materials, whether it is tungsten, molybdenum, austenitic steel used in China, or even ceramics, etc.
There is no way to break the previous record.”
After a pause, he continued: "Furthermore, judging from the progress in the materials laboratory, most metal materials may not be applied to the first wall, whether it is tungsten, molybdenum, or zirconium.
and other alloys.”
"When these metal materials are irradiated by high-energy neutron beams of 14.1 mev level, the dislocation effect and swelling effect of the metal bonds are really serious."
"If we just resist neutron radiation, we still have some methods, but the neutrons produced by the fusion of deuterium and tritium are the key to maintaining the self-sustainability of tritium, and we cannot reflect them all back."
"Perhaps, the metal route may not be suitable for first wall materials. We should consider ceramics and carbon nanomaterials, such as graphene or carbon nanotubes."
Robert Mack frowned and said: "Nanoceramics and carbon nanomaterials are old things. Don't you have any new discoveries?"
Tillman Lunt shrugged helplessly and said: "There are indeed many non-metallic materials, but you don't know how harsh the environment that the first wall material needs to face."
"Thousands of degrees of high temperature, the impact of various high-energy particles, the exposure to various radiations, and the most troublesome high-energy neutron beam, all of which are big troubles."
Robert Mack sighed, as the director of the Planck Institute of Plasma Research, how could he not be aware of these problems.
If they just want to catch up or even surpass China, they must get a head start on the first wall of materials.
After thinking for a while, Robert suddenly asked: "How do you think Professor Xu will solve this problem?"
Hearing this question, Tillman Lunt fell into deep thought. After a while, he shook his head with a wry smile and said, "I don't know, I can't figure it out."
"He is a man who is good at creating miracles, and he is a true genius. To be honest, this kind of genius, which is rare throughout history, may have a completely different perspective from ours."
"Otherwise it's hard for me to imagine how he could have accomplished so many great things at such a young age."
Looking at the Spiral Stone 7 undergoing experiments behind the screen, Tillman paused for a moment, and then said: "It would be great if China did not leave iter. In this way, maybe we can still visit China through iter. Let’s talk.”
"After all, sometimes one idea is enough to push progress very far."
On the side, Robert didn't make a sound, just sighed slightly.
Stop dreaming.
The Hua Kingdom has already left, and it is simply impossible to think about these things now.
What's more, in a field as sensitive as controllable nuclear fusion, no one can selflessly share their advanced technology.
The United States is such a ****, demolishing it wherever it goes.
Not only is iter almost ruined, I heard that life at cern is not going very well either.
Under a semi-forced nature, Cern had already reached cooperation, and even the contract to ship some high-temperature superconducting materials was terminated.
Although Sakura Country and the United States quickly signed a new contract and paid part of the scientific research funds, it is still unknown how long it will take to restart the LHC.
After losing the support of high-temperature superconducting materials and Professor Xu, the detection and discovery of dark matter and dark energy is even more distant and there is no hope in sight.
Many scholars in the fields of high energy physics and particle physics have an extremely pessimistic view on this.
Even cern might fall into the footsteps of iter.
On the other side, Huaguo, Jinling.
Xu Chuan is not very clear about the progress of the Planck Plasma Institute. This kind of thing never happened in the previous life when the EU united as a whole.
However, controllable nuclear fusion is not a problem that can be solved by relying on manpower.
Manpower can speed up the research and development and advancement of some conventional technologies, but those top world problems
For example, mathematical models of plasma turbulence, first wall materials, or high-temperature superconducting materials with excellent performance are not technologies that can be developed by manpower.
At least it is impossible in a short period of time, but there may be a glimmer of hope with long-term investment.
Of course, it's just a glimmer of hope.
For example, the mathematical model of plasma turbulence is based on the perfect solution of the n equation, and the precondition is a millennium mathematical conjecture.
Not to mention the latter material.
Unless you are extremely lucky, you can only rely on experience and exploration for top-quality materials.
Although he is concerned about the progress of controllable nuclear fusion in Europe, in comparison, he is more concerned about the performance of carbon composite materials synthesized from zirconium oxide under high-energy neutron irradiation after the Dawn Fusion device is turned on this time.
After all, instead of expecting others to push your hips, it is better to keep your advantage and stay ahead.
Under the leadership of Zhao Hongzhi, the engineering team placed ten groups of zirconia carbon composite materials and ten groups of different control materials on the first wall.
Immediately, the comprehensive inspection was completed, and the steel giant lying quietly in the core experimental area let out a soft chirp, which was the sound of powerful current flowing from the external field coil.
Supported by the excellent superconducting properties of high-temperature copper-carbon-silver composite superconducting materials, electrical energy is quickly converted into a magnetic field, which controls the operation of high-temperature deuterium and tritium plasma in the reactor chamber.
In the main control room, Zhao Guanggui stood nervously behind Xu Chuan, his eyes switching back and forth between the console and Xu Chuan's back.
For him, the controllable nuclear fusion project is the largest project he has ever participated in, not to mention that he also took on the important task of solving problems related to the first wall materials.
I heard that more than 50 billion RMB has been spent on this project so far, which is scary when I think about it.
Even, he couldn't fully understand what 50 billion was.
The cost of the Dawn Fusion Device in front of us is as high as 2.5 billion, not to mention that it has been modified many times in succession, each time costing tens of millions or even hundreds of millions.
If the effect of the zirconia carbon composite material this time was not so ideal, he would not know how to face the experimental results.
p: Yesterday I took my father to Xiangya Hospital for the last follow-up visit. The relevant examinations have been basically completed, the medicine was prescribed, and the order was obtained. It was already evening and I sent him back to his hometown. I just rushed back to Changsha today, so
Yesterday’s update has been postponed to today (due to time constraints, I didn’t bring a computer or anything back with me).
There are two more chapters today.
In addition, I promised you before that I would create a group after this matter is handled. It has been completed. There is a link at the end of the chapter. If you are interested, you can come in and play.