Українська правда

MIT created an AI model for safe plasma control in fusion reactors

MIT created an AI model for safe plasma control in fusion reactors
0

A team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT) has developed a model that helps predict the behavior of plasma in tokamaks during the "quenching" of the reaction, Gizmodo reports.

This is one of the most dangerous stages of fusion power plants: the plasma moves at speeds of up to 100 km/s and heats up to 100 million °C — hotter than the core of the Sun. If the termination process goes unchecked, the plasma can damage the inner walls of the reactor, leading to expensive and time-consuming repairs.

In a new paper published in Nature Communications, the researchers combined a neural network with a physical model of plasma dynamics. They trained it on data from the Swiss experimental tokamak TCV, which recorded changes in plasma temperature and energy at different stages of the launch. The algorithm creates "trajectories" - predictions of how the plasma will behave under certain initial conditions.

Tokamaks are special tanks in the shape of a torus (donut). The gas inside the tokamak is heated under enormous pressure, turning into plasma. Due to the extremely high temperature, the plasma cannot be allowed to come into contact with the walls of the tank, so it is held in place by magnets.

In real-world experiments, these "trajectories" helped operators safely reduce reactor power, reducing the risk of damage. According to study leader Allen Wang, the model showed a statistically significant improvement over standard methods.

The importance of the work lies in the fact that tokamak launches are extremely expensive and only happen a few times a year. Therefore, the ability to train algorithms on simulations and small experimental setups significantly accelerates progress.

The researchers emphasize that this is only the "beginning of a long journey," but such tools could make fusion power reliable and scalable. In the future, such models will allow operators to control the plasma in real time, reducing the risk of accidents and increasing the efficiency of reactors.

Share:
Посилання скопійовано
Advert:
Advert: