Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Commonwealth Fusion Systems LLC

Brandon N Sorbom

Zachary S Hartwig

Robert Mumgaard

John D Wright

Philip Michael

Rui Vieira

William Beck

Brian Labombard

James Irby

Daniel Brunner

Martin Greenwald

Robert S Granetz

Lihua Zhou

Jeffrey Doody

Alexey L Radovinsky

Syun'ichi Shiraiwa

Shunichi Shiraiwa

Alexey Radovinsky

Dennis G Whyte

Theodore Wyeth

Matthew Vernacchia

Alexander Creely

Caroline Sorensen

Cody Dennett

Techniques are described for automatically removing and replacing components, including a vacuum vessel, from a tokamak. The inventors have recognized that schemes for automatically removing and replacing components from a tokamak should preferably be simple (e.g., using proven equipment to perform a series of non-mechanically complex tasks) and have a very low risk of damaging components. Techniques described herein may include splitting a tokamak into multiple pieces, separating the pieces, and removing the now separate pieces of the vacuum vessel from within the pieces of the tokamak. A new vacuum vessel can be inserted in multiple pieces and the tokamak rejoined to complete the replacement process.

Techniques for automated maintenance of a tokamak and related systems and methods

Described herein are concepts, system and techniques which provide a means to construct robust high-field superconducting magnets using simple fabrication techniques and modular components that scale well toward commercialization. The resulting magnet assembly—which utilizes non-insulated, high temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) and provides for optimized coolant pathways—is inherently strong structurally, which enables maximum utilization of the high magnetic fields available with HTS technology. In addition, the concepts described herein provide for control of quench-induced current distributions within the tape stack and surrounding superstructure to safely dissipate quench energy, while at the same time obtaining acceptable magnet charge time. The net result is a structurally and thermally robust, high-field magnet assembly that is passively protected against quench fault conditions.

Grooved, stacked-plate superconducting magnets and electrically conductive terminal blocks and related construction techniques

Described herein are concepts, system and techniques which provide a means to construct robust high-field superconducting magnets using simple fabrication techniques and modular components that scale well toward commercialization. The resulting magnet assembly&#x2014;which utilizes non-insulated, high temperature superconducting tapes (HTS) and provides for optimized coolant pathways&#x2014;is inherently strong structurally, which enables maximum utilization of the high magnetic fields available with HTS technology. In addition, the concepts described herein provide for control of quench-induced current distributions within the tape stack and surrounding superstructure to safely dissipate quench energy, while at the same time obtaining acceptable magnet charge time. The net result is a structurally and thermally robust, high-field magnet assembly that is passively protected against quench fault conditions.

Disclosed are a superconductor having improved critical current density when exposed to high-energy neutron radiation and high magnetic fields, such as found in a compact nuclear fusion reactor, and a method of making the same. The method includes, prior to deployment in the exposure environment, irradiating a polycrystalline (e.g. cuprate) superconductor with ionic matter or neutrons at a cryogenic temperature to create 'weak' magnetic flux pinning sites, such as point defects or small defect clusters. Irradiation temperature is chosen, for example as a function of the superconducting material, so that irradiation creates the beneficial flux pinning sites while avoiding detrimental widening of the boundaries of the crystalline grains caused by diffusion of the displaced atoms. Such a superconductor in a coated-conductor tape is expected to be beneficial when used, for example, as a toroidal field coil in a fusion reactor when cooled well below its critical temperature.

Cryogenic radiation enhancement of superconductors

Grooved, stacked-plate superconducting magnets and electrically conductive terminal blocks

Growing community of inventors

Cambridge, MA, United States of America

Brandon N Sorbom