Le code de simulation magnétohydrodynamique JOREK désormais disponible en accès libre

Over nearly two decades, Europe's contribution to ITER has helped create the world's largest fusion supply chain. A new report from Fusion for Energy (F4E), Building the European Fusion Supply Chain, traces the development of an industrial ecosystem comprising at least 2,700 companies and 75 research organizations, supported by EUR 7 billion in investment. Beyond delivering first-of-a-kind components for ITER, this investment has strengthened European industrial capabilities, fostered innovation and developed expertise essential to future fusion projects. The report examines the procurement strategies behind this transformation and how Europe can maintain its competitiveness as fusion moves toward commercialization.

Read more and access the report on the F4E website.

The JOREK magneto-hydro-dynamic simulation code now available open source, allowing scientists across the worldwide fusion community to contribute to and validate the code against experiments.

JOREK is extensively used for modelling of plasma disruptions, which are the most intense plasma instabilities in tokamaks, and the associated thermal and electromagnetic loads on components installed inside ITER’s vacuum vessel to protect it from plasma and neutron impact. However, its most important application for ITER is the study and improvement of the efficiency of disruption mitigation. JOREK can accurately simulate the physics of the injection of shattered pellets and the resulting 3-dimensional evolution of the magnetic field, which determines the deposition of energy and particles (including runaway electrons) in the large-scale plasma disturbances that take place during disruptions. 

Access the JOREK code in the ITER IMAS repository. 

For years, the transfer of large components on the ITER site relied on self-propelled modular trailers (SPMT) powered by conventional diesel power pack units (PPU), which pumped high-pressure hydraulic oil to the transporters' motors. Powerful and dependable, diesel engines are also noisy and produce exhaust fumes and fine particles—an important consideration when operating inside buildings.

Now, specially developed electric power pack units from Dutch heavy-lifting specialist Mammoet have replaced their diesel counterparts on the ITER site. Developed for ITER and global logistics provider DAHER, the new Mammoet e.PPUs are a first of their kind. Join TV presenter and engineer Rob Bell and his team as they document the transfer of two large components using the new technology.

Watch Mammoet's 11-minute video on YouTube.

Germany’s Wendelstein 7-X stellarator began a new experimental campaign in September, bringing together scientists from around the world to advance research into high-performance plasmas and long-pulse operation in stellarators.

The OP2.4 campaign, scheduled to run through mid-December, builds on previous achievements in plasma confinement and sustained operation. Among the participants are EUROfusion researchers from approximately 20 European laboratories, whose contributions focus on three priorities: achieving hotter, denser and better-confined plasmas; improving understanding of fast-ion behaviour and turbulence; and extending high-power plasma discharges.

One ambitious objective is to sustain discharges lasting more than 500 seconds, with an energy throughput of 6 gigajoules.

Unlike tokamaks, stellarators use a complex, three-dimensional magnetic field to confine plasma without requiring a strong plasma current. The results of the campaign will help improve physics models and inform the development of future stellarator-based fusion power plants.

Read the full article on the EUROfusion website.

--Photo: MPI for Plasma Physics, Jan Michael Hosan