ITER is one of the most ambitious projects in the history of science and technology, aiming to recreate on Earth the nuclear fusion process that occurs in stars like the Sun. This experiment seeks to demonstrate that it is possible to obtain fusion energy efficiently and sustainably.
The ITER project, whose name refers to the Latin term meaning “path,” brings together the world’s leading powers and is being constructed in Cadarache, in the south of France. The goal is to prove that this type of energy can be viable on a commercial scale, which would represent a major advance toward a future with clean and practically unlimited energy.
What Is ITER?
ITER, an acronym for International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, is an experiment designed to recreate the nuclear fusion process—the same that generates energy in stars. This project, jointly developed by seven entities—the European Union, Russia, the United States, China, India, Japan, and South Korea—hopes to be one of the key solutions for obtaining abundant and clean energy in the future.
Unlike nuclear fission reactors, which obtain energy by splitting heavy atoms, ITER harnesses the fusion of light atoms, such as isotopes of hydrogen: deuterium and tritium. The fusion of these elements produces a huge amount of energy without the dangerous radioactive waste generated by nuclear fission.
With a total weight of 23,000 tons and a height of nearly 30 meters, ITER will be the largest nuclear fusion reactor in the world. Although other similar projects have already demonstrated some advances, such as the Joint European Torus (JET) in the United Kingdom, ITER is designed to take the next big step in nuclear fusion research.
The main objective of this experiment is to demonstrate that fusion energy can produce a greater amount of energy than is invested to initiate the reaction. The parameter that measures this energy gain is called Q, which compares the energy produced with the energy initially injected into the plasma.
The Importance of Fusion Energy
Nuclear fusion is the reaction that naturally takes place in stars. In the core of the Sun, hydrogen atoms collide and fuse due to enormous pressure and temperature, releasing vast amounts of energy by forming heavier helium atoms. Nuclear fusion on Earth mimics this process using two isotopes of hydrogen: deuterium and tritium.
To achieve this process in a laboratory, three conditions must be met:
- Extremely high temperature, exceeding 150 million degrees Celsius.
- High density of plasma particles to increase the probability of collisions.
- Sufficiently long confinement time so the plasma doesn’t escape before fusion occurs.
The main challenge of fusion is to maintain the extremely hot plasma, as it tends to expand. To achieve this, reactors like ITER use powerful magnetic fields created by superconducting coils. These magnetic fields keep the plasma confined in a vacuum chamber shaped like a donut, allowing fusion reactions to occur inside.
ITER’s Design and Structure
The design of ITER is based on Tokamak technology developed in the Soviet Union during the 1950s. This type of reactor has a toroidal or donut-shaped vacuum chamber, inside which the plasma is confined by extremely powerful magnetic fields. The goal is to reproduce the conditions that occur in the cores of stars, where gravity forces hydrogen atoms to fuse.
The heart of ITER is its Tokamak reactor. This reactor is the largest constructed to date and will surpass any other, including the JET. Everything in ITER is colossal. The cryostat, for example, is a gigantic stainless steel chamber measuring 29 x 29 meters that provides the high vacuum necessary for fusion reactions to take place. It also envelops the powerful superconducting magnets that generate the magnetic fields capable of confining the plasma.
The vacuum chamber of ITER, where nuclear fusion occurs, is made of stainless steel and weighs 8,000 tons. This structure is the first barrier containing any residual radiation that could be generated by plasma fusion. To cool the chamber and prevent it from overheating, cold water circulates between its inner and outer walls.
The Superconducting Magnets and Plasma
One of the most important elements of ITER is the superconducting magnets, which play the role of confining the plasma within the vacuum chamber. These magnets, made from alloys of niobium and tin, are capable of generating a magnetic field strong enough to keep the plasma stable. The magnets of ITER weigh about 10,000 tons in total.
The plasma in ITER is created by heating a mixture of tritium and deuterium to temperatures exceeding 150 million degrees Celsius. Under these extreme conditions, hydrogen atoms are stripped of their electrons, resulting in a state of matter called plasma. This plasma must be kept away from the walls of the vacuum chamber to prevent it from losing heat.
Advances and Future of Nuclear Fusion
The ITER project represents a major advance in nuclear fusion research, but much work remains before this form of energy can be used on a commercial scale. The goal is for ITER to produce its first plasma in 2025, although the first full operations with deuterium and tritium are scheduled for 2035.
In addition to ITER, there are other ongoing projects, such as the JT-60SA in Japan, which also aim to advance fusion research. Although extremely complex, the success of ITER could pave the way for the further development of fusion power plants capable of producing electricity for the grid using this type of energy.
Nuclear fusion has the potential to be a safe, clean, and virtually unlimited source of energy, capable of meeting the world’s energy needs without the carbon emissions that currently contribute to climate change. However, it remains to be seen whether it will be commercially viable.
The ambition behind ITER and other fusion projects demonstrates that humanity is willing to face technological challenges to secure a cleaner and more sustainable energy future. If ITER succeeds, we could be on the brink of a new era in energy production.
Summary
ITER is one of the most ambitious scientific projects today. Its goal is to demonstrate that nuclear fusion can be a viable source of clean and virtually unlimited energy. Through a design based on the Tokamak reactor, ITER seeks to recreate on Earth the conditions that allow the fusion of hydrogen atoms. If successful, the project could pave the way for a new era in the energy sector, although many challenges remain before this technology is ready for commercial application.