Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory are using liquid lithium to cool down fusion reactors. In addition to helping maintain the fusion reactor temperature, the liquid metal also protects reactor components from neutron bombardment, a press release sent to Interesting Engineering said.
Fusion energy is often considered the future of clean energy, capable of delivering an abundant supply of energy without carbon emissions. Tokamaks are one of the most favored designs for nuclear fusion reactors due to their compactness, safety, and cost-effectiveness.
Despite extensive research on tokamaks, they still face several challenges.
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) measured a new record for a fusion device internally clad in tungsten, the element that could be the best fit for the commercial-scale machines required to make fusion a viable energy source for the world.
For the first time, scientists have built a fusion experiment using permanent magnets, a technique that could show a simple way to build future devices for less cost and allow researchers to test new concepts for future fusion power plants.
How much fuel can we add to the fire while still maintaining control? Metaphorically speaking, that's the question one team at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) has been asking themselves lately.
Now, they believe they have the answer for one particular scenario. It's all a part of the Lab's work to bring energy from fusion to the power grid.
Researchers at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory are using liquid lithium to cool down fusion reactors. In addition to helping maintain the fusion reactor temperature, the liquid metal also protects reactor components from neutron bombardment, a press release sent to Interesting Engineering said. 
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) measured a new record for a fusion device internally clad in tungsten, the element that could be the best fit for the commercial-scale machines required to make fusion a viable energy source for the world.
For the first time, scientists have built a fusion experiment using permanent magnets, a technique that could show a simple way to build future devices for less cost and allow researchers to test new concepts for future fusion power plants.
How much fuel can we add to the fire while still maintaining control? Metaphorically speaking, that's the question one team at the U.S. Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) has been asking themselves lately.