Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor: Pioneering Fusion Energy Location: United States, New Jersey
Total Expense: $2.5 Billion
Completed Year: 1989
The Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) is a groundbreaking facility that seems to have stepped straight out of a science fiction narrative. Constructed by the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory in 1980, this experimental tokamak was completed in 1989 at a remarkable cost of $2.5 billion.
The primary objective of the TFTR was to advance humanity's understanding of fusion energy and to help achieve the scientific breakeven point. This critical milestone occurs when the heat generated by fusion reactions within a heated plasma equals the heat absorbed from external sources. By conducting a series of experiments, the TFTR aimed to explore the conditions necessary for sustained fusion reactions, which could potentially lead to a new era of clean and virtually limitless energy.
Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor: A Milestone in Fusion Research Location: United States, New Jersey
Total Expense: $2.5 Billion
Completed Year: 1989
Despite the significant investment of approximately $2.5 billion, the Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR) ultimately fell short of achieving its primary objectives related to sustained fusion energy production. Nonetheless, it marked a historic milestone as the first magnetic fusion device to successfully generate 10 megawatts (MW) of fusion electricity. This achievement represented a crucial step forward in the field of fusion research, demonstrating the potential of magnetic confinement for harnessing fusion energy.
After fifteen years of operation, the TFTR was decommissioned and subsequently buried, but its legacy continues to influence ongoing research in fusion technology. The data and insights gained from the experiments conducted at the TFTR have paved the way for future advancements in fusion energy, contributing to the broader understanding of plasma physics and the challenges associated with achieving practical fusion power.
