Recent progress in Chinese fusion research based on superconducting tokamak configuration

Abstract

Fusion energy is a promising source of clean energy, which could solve energy shortages and environmental pollution. Research into controlled fusion energy has been ongoing for over half a century. China has created a clear roadmap for magnetic confinement fusion development, where superconducting tokamaks will be used in commercial fusion reactors. The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) is the world’s first fully superconducting tokamak with upper and lower divertors, which aims at long-pulse, steady-state, H-mode operation, and 101-s H-mode discharge had been achieved. In 2007, China joined the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and became one of its seven members. Thirteen procurement packages are undertaken by China, covering superconducting magnets, power supplies, plasma-facing components (PFCs), diagnostics, etc. To bridge the gap between the ITER and fusion demonstration power plants (DEMOs), China is planning to build the Chinese Fusion Engineering Testing Reactor (CFETR) to demonstrate related technologies and physics models. The engineering design of the CFETR was completed in 2020, and Comprehensive Research Facilities for Fusion Technology (CRAFT) are being constructed to explore the key technologies used in the CFETR.