Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak

The Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak (MAST) experiment was a nuclear fusion experiment. It tested a spherical tokamak nuclear fusion reactor. MAST was commissioned by EURATOM/UKAEA. The experiment took place at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, Oxfordshire, England. The experiment ran from December 1999 to September 2013. A successor facility called MAST Upgrade began operation in 2020.[1]

MAST
Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak
Plasma in the MAST reactor
Device TypeSpherical tokamak
LocationCulham, Oxfordshire, UK
AffiliationCulham Centre for Fusion Energy
Technical specifications
Major Radius~ 0.9 m (2 ft 11 in)
Minor Radius~ 0.6 m (2 ft 0 in)
Plasma volume8 m3
Magnetic field0.55 T (5,500 G)
Heating power5 MW
Plasma current1.3 MA
History
Date(s) of construction1997
Year(s) of operation1999–2013
Preceded bySmall Tight Aspect Ratio Tokamak (START)
Succeeded byMAST-U

Design

A spherical tokamak is shaped more like a cored apple than the conventional, doughnut-shaped toroidal design used by experiments such as ITER. Spherical tokamaks are more efficient in their use of the magnetic field.

MAST included a neutral beam injector for plasma heating. It used a merging compression technique for plasma formation instead of the conventional direct induction. Merging compression saves central solenoid flux, which can then be used to increase the plasma current and/or maintain the required current flat-top.

MAST's plasma volume was about 8 m3. It confined plasmas with densities on the order of 1020/m3.

MAST's plasma had an almost circular outer profile. The extensions off the top and bottom are plasma flowing to the ring divertors, a key feature of modern tokamak designs.

Experiments

MAST confirmed the increased operating efficiency of spherical tokamaks – demonstrating a high beta (ratio of plasma pressure to the pressure from the confining magnetic field). MAST performed experiments on controlling and mitigating instabilities at the edge of the plasma – so-called Edge Localised Modes or ELMs.

History

The Small Tight Aspect Ratio Tokamak (START) experiment (1991-1998) was an earlier spherical tokamak. START exceeded the most optimistic predictions and MAST confirmed its on a larger, more purpose-built experiment.

The MAST design occupied 1995-1997. Construction consumed 1997-1999. First plasma came in 1999.

Over its lifetime MAST produced 30471 plasmas (in pulses up to 0.5 sec). In October 2013 the reactor was shut down for upgrade.[2]

MAST Upgrade

MAST Upgrade is the successor experiment, also at Culham Centre. The upgrade cost £45M. It started in 2013 and was expected to significantly exceed MAST’s heating power, plasma current, magnetic field and pulse length.

MAST Upgrade began operation on 29 October 2020.[3]

One of MAST Upgrade's most notable features is the Super-X divertor. The divertor removes excess heat and impurities from the plasma. Conventional divertor designs, at powerplant scale, will experience high heat loads and will need to be regularly replaced. The Super-X divertor was expected to produce heat loads that are lower by around a factor of 10.

Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production

The design of the next generation Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) began in 2019 with £220 million in government funding. The plan is begin operations in the 2040s.[4] Current plan is to not include a tritium generation facility.[5]

See also

References
  1. "MAST Upgrade Research Plan, November 2019" (PDF). Culham Centre for Fusion Energy. Retrieved 2020-10-26.
  2. "News: It's goodbye to MAST - and hello to MAST Upgrade". Ccfe.ac.uk. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  3. Rincon, Paul (2020-10-29). "UK fusion experiment used in hunt for clean energy". BBC News Online. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  4. "STEP". Culham Centre for Fusion Energy. Retrieved 2020-11-27.
  5. Clery, Daniel (2020-12-02). "U.K. seeks site for world's first fusion power station". Science. doi:10.1126/science.abf9768. ISSN 0036-8075.
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