Stellarator: An alternative to the Tokamak
Credit: EUROfusion consortium; Photographer: Christopher Roux (CEA-IRFM);
Wendelstein 7-X - the world's largest stellarator
The advanced stellarator Wendelstein 7-X, housed at the IPP Greifswald campus began operations in December 2015. Wendelstein 7-X is an engineering and modelling feat, not only because it is the world’s largest stellarator with a diameter of around 16 metres but also because it is expected to be able to confine the 100-million-degree Celsius plasma discharges for up to 30 minutes. Among other things, EUROfusion researchers are investigating the device to determine the suitability of a stellarator concept for a power plant. Visit the IPP webpage on Wendelstein 7-X to learn more.
Quick facts:
- Major plasma radius: 5,5 metres
- Minor plasma radius: 0,53 metre
- Magnetic field: 3 tesla
- Pulse length: max. 30 minutes
- Plasma heating: 14 megawatts
- Plasma volume: 30 cubic metres
- Plasma mixture: hydrogen, deuterium
- Plasma temperature: 60 – 130 million degrees Celsius