ITERprojektia

ITER projektia, or the ITER project, is an international collaborative effort to build the world's largest experimental tokamak fusion device. Located in Saint-Paul-lès-Durance, France, ITER aims to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power as a clean, abundant, and safe energy source.

The project involves the collaboration of 35 nations, representing over half of the world's population. Its primary objective is to produce and confine a plasma at temperatures exceeding 150 million degrees Celsius, ten times hotter than the core of the sun. At these extreme temperatures, atomic nuclei can overcome their mutual repulsion and fuse, releasing vast amounts of energy.

ITER's design incorporates a toroidal chamber where magnetic fields are used to confine the superheated plasma. This magnetic confinement is crucial for preventing the plasma from touching the reactor walls, which would cause it to cool down and damage the vessel. The fusion reactions are expected to generate helium, a harmless gas, and neutrons, which will carry away energy and can be used to breed tritium, a key fuel component.

The construction of ITER is a complex undertaking, involving the assembly of massive components, many of which are custom-designed and manufactured by member states. The project is being built in phases, with significant progress made in recent years. Upon completion, ITER is expected to operate for several decades, providing invaluable data and experience for the design of future fusion power plants. The ultimate goal is to contribute to a sustainable energy future for humanity.