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Draft:Kronos Fusion Energy Incorporated

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  • Comment: Still contains sections which are entirely uncited. Please use reliable, secondary sources, and correctly format the citationes; WP:REFB can be a good guide in this. Ensure a neutral point of view is adhered to throughout. Utopes (talk / cont) 05:16, 6 September 2024 (UTC)

Kronos Fusion Energy Incorporated is an American company focused on developing fusion energy technology. Founded in 2022.[1] by Priyanca Iyengar Ford, along with co-founders Paul Weiss, Carl Weggel, and Konstantin Batygin, the company aims to contribute to the energy sector by creating sustainable and efficient fusion energy solutions. The company's primary project, the Kronos S.M.A.R.T. (Superconducting Minimum-Aspect-Ratio Torus) fusion energy device, represents an advancement in the field of fusion technology[2]. Kronos Fusion Energy has been involved in the research and development of fusion energy algorithms since 2014, which led to its formal incorporation in 2022.

History

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Kronos Fusion Energy was established in 2022 by Priyanca Iyengar Ford, alongside co-founders Paul Weiss, Carl Weggel, and Konstantin Batygin. The company has focused on developing fusion energy algorithms since 2014, with the goal of creating a sustainable and safe energy source through fusion technology. The founders' backgrounds include research and experience from institutions such as MIT, Harvard, UCLA, and Caltech, which have led the company's direction in the fusion energy sector[3].

The development of the S.M.A.R.T. (Superconducting Minimum-Aspect-Ratio Torus) fusion energy device is a central effort of Kronos Fusion Energy. This device, engineered by Carl Weggel[4], is designed to address challenges in magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) and aims to provide a scalable and economically viable solution for generating clean energy. The S.M.A.R.T. device incorporates advanced superconducting materials to enhance efficiency and energy output, with a design that includes a spherical housing and various coils, such as poloidal and toroidal field coils, reinforced with materials like graphite-fiber or graphene for added structural integrity. The device targets a Q40 fusion energy mechanical gain[5], which is intended to improve the performance and cost-effectiveness of fusion reactors.

Technology

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Kronos Fusion Energy's S.M.A.R.T. fusion energy device utilizes magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) technology, which employs magnetic fields to confine plasma[6]—hot ionized gas necessary for nuclear fusion—at extremely high temperatures. The device is designed to optimize plasma confinement and achieve the conditions necessary for sustained fusion reactions. The S.M.A.R.T. device's design focuses on achieving efficient and scalable energy generation, with potential applications in various sectors, including industrial heating and power generation.

The company's approach to aneutronic helium-3 fusion is particularly noteworthy for its potential to reduce radiation hazards and simplify reactor design. Helium-3, when used in fusion reactions, produces minimal neutrons, making it a cleaner alternative to conventional fusion methods. However, the scarcity of helium-3 on Earth presents challenges, although recent advancements in technology and the possibility of lunar mining have renewed interest in this fusion pathway.

Research and Development

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Kronos Fusion Energy has focused its research and development efforts on integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and quantum computing into its fusion energy systems. These technologies are employed to optimize fusion reactions and enhance energy output. The company's research initiatives aim to contribute to the broader scientific understanding of fusion energy and to advance the commercial viability of fusion reactors.

Leadership and Founding Team

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Kronos Fusion Energy is led by a team with extensive experience in fusion energy, material sciences, and related fields. The leadership team includes Priyanca Iyengar Ford (Founder and CEO), Paul Weiss (Co-founder and Chief Material Scientist), Carl Weggel (Co-founder and Lead Nuclear Engineer), and Konstantin Batygin (Co-founder and Chief Mathematician). The company benefits from the expertise of additional key team members and advisors, who collectively bring decades of experience in fusion energy research and development.

Vision and Impact

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Kronos Fusion Energy aims to commercialize its fusion energy technology by 2032, with a focus on achieving a low Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) and providing a sustainable and economically viable energy source. The company envisions its S.M.A.R.T. technology playing a critical role in addressing global energy challenges, including reducing carbon emissions and providing clean energy for industrial applications. Kronos Fusion Energy is committed to advancing its fusion technology through continuous innovation, leveraging the latest advancements in AI, machine learning, and quantum computing to optimize reactor performance and expedite commercialization[7]

List of ST machines

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Retired

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Operational

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Under Construction

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Proposed

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Energy, Kronos Fusion (2022-03-16). "Kronos Fusion Energy Plans to Make the U.S. a World Leader in Fusion Energy Generation". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  2. ^ "Kronos Fusion Energy Looks to Take the Next Steps With Direct Fusion Drive". www.powersystemsdesign.com. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  3. ^ "Kronos Fusion Energy Unleashes Groundbreaking S.M.A.R.T. 40 Approach: Ushering in a New Era of Clean, Boundless Energy - World-Energy". www.world-energy.org. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  4. ^ Aug 31, EIN Presswire; 2023; Et, 4:46 Pm (2023-08-31). "KRONOS FUSION ENERGY UNVEILS 30-TESLA HIGH-TEMPERATURE SUPERCONDUCTING MAGNET FOR GAME-CHANGING ANEUTRONIC FUSION". NEWS10 ABC. Retrieved 2024-08-05. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Kronos Fusion Energy Unleashes Groundbreaking S.M.A.R.T. 40 Approach: Ushering in a New Era of Clean, Boundless Energy". www.acnnewswire.com. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  6. ^ "Kronos Fusion Energy Announces the Establishment of the World's First Fusion Energy Component Factory in India". rivercountry.newschannelnebraska.com. Retrieved 2024-09-06.
  7. ^ "Kronos Fusion Energy Defense Systems Takes a Synchronized Approach to Commercialize Fusion Energy Generation". Yahoo Finance. 2022-03-18. Retrieved 2024-09-06.

Additional References

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1.       "NSTX-U Press Kit" Princeton Plasma Physics Lab.

2.       "Diagram of NSTX-U changes". Archived from the original. Retrieved 2020-11-14

3.       The Role of the Spherical Tokamak in the U.S. Fusion Energy Sciences Program Menard, 2012

4.       "PPPL to launch major upgrade of key fusion energy test facility". Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. Jan 2012. Archived from the original. Retrieved 2015-12-12

5.       "Overview of the NSTX-U Recovery Project Physics and Engineering Design"(PDF). S. P. Gerhardt, et al. Archived from the original(PDF). Retrieved 2019-09-07

6.       "NSTX-U recovery plan: Environmental Evaluation Notification Form"(PDF). NSTX-U recovery project. August 2017. $65,000,000 ... * Redesign and Replace the Inner Poloidal Field (PF) Coils : The six PF- I magnet coils would be replaced with new coils or improved design: they would be mandrel-less, have no joggles, and no braze joints. * Redesign and Replace Polar Regions of NSTX-U : The top and bottom of the NSTX-U device would be redesigned with numerous design improvements. All single 0-ring seals would be replaced by double 0-rings or a metallic structure, the PF-1c vacuum interface would be made more robust, one of either the upper or lower ceramic insulators would be eliminated, and the PF-lb coil supports would be thermally isolated from the vessel. * Redesign and Replace Plasma Facing Components.

7.       "[1st] Review of NSTX-U Recovery plans notes progress and outlines challenges"(PDF). Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. 12 Feb 2018.

8.       Cho, Adrian (2020-02-06). "After decades of decline, the U.S. national fusion lab seeks a rebirth". Science | AAAS. Retrieved 2020-02-07.      

9. Gerhardt, Stefan (2022-03-16). "Team Meeting 3/16/2022"(PDF). Retrieved 2022-10-14

10. ASIPP (China). Its main facility is the EAST tokamak operated since 2006. It is the first tokamak to employ superconducting toroidal and poloidal magnets, and set several records in long-pulse high-parameter tokamak plasma operation.

11. CEA Cadarache (France). It operates the WEST tokamak.

12. Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (United Kingdom). It is the home of the Joint European Torus (JET) and the Mega Ampere Spherical Tokamak-Upgrade (MAST-U).

13. EPFL Swiss Plasma Center (Switzerland). It operates the tokamak à configuration variable (TCV) which specializes in plasma shaping research.

14. General Atomics (United States). It is currently operating the DIII-D tokamak.

15. Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (Germany). Its main experimental facilities are the ASDEX Upgrade tokamak and the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator.

16. MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (United States). It previously operated the Alcator C-Mod tokamak between 1991 and 2016, and is currently building the SPARC tokamak with Commonwealth Fusion Systems.

17. Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (United States). Its primary fusion experiment is the National Spherical Torus Experiment-Upgrade (NSTX-U).

18. Sykes 1998, p. 1.

19.  "Derek Robinson: Physicist devoted to creating a safe form of energy from fusion" Archived 2023-01-08 at the Wayback Machine The Sunday Times, 11 December 2002

20.  Sykes, Alan; et al. (1992). "First results from the START experiment". Nuclear Fusion. 32 (4): 694. doi: 10.1088/0029-5515/32/4/I16. S2CID: 250817374.

21.  Sykes 1997, p. B248.

22.  Sykes 2008, p. 29.

23.  Sykes 1998, p. 4.

24.  Sykes 2008, p. 18.

25.  The PROTO-SPHERA experiment, an innovative confinement scheme for Fusion Archived 2018-05-02 at the Wayback Machine. Franco Alladio, Instituto Nazionale de Fisica Nucleare. Italy. 14 September 2017.

26.  Leone, Marco (November 14, 2017), L'esperimento Proto-Sphera [The Proto-Sphera experiment] (in Italian), Cronache dal Silenzio, In common reactors, attempts are made to prevent instabilities from forming, because these can cause the plasma to escape from the path established by the magnetic field and damage the internal walls of the reactor. To limit this, the surface of the plasma toroid is normally modeled so that the instabilities are concentrated towards an area that can be freely damaged, called divertor. In Proto-Sphera instabilities are exploited instead: by making the column unstable, this collapses into a spherical toroid, exploiting the phenomenon of magnetic reconnection: a phenomenon that takes place in the plasma and in which the magnetic energy of the plasma is converted into kinetic energy of the plasma itself.

27.  Sykes 2008, p. 20, images.

28.  Freidberg 2007, p. 414.

29.  Freidberg 2007, p. 413.

30.  Sykes 2008, p. 24.

31.  Costley, A E; McNamara, S A M (2021-01-07). "Fusion performance of spherical and conventional tokamaks: implications for compact pilot plants and reactors. Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion. 63 (3): 035005. "Bibcode:2021PPCF...63c5005C. doi: 10.1088/1361-6587/abcdfc, ISSN: 0741-3335.

32.  Sykes 2008, p. 13, examples.

33.  Herman, Robin (1990). Fusion: The Search for Endless Energy. Cambridge University Press. p. 30.

34.  Freidberg 2007, p. 287.

35.  Freidberg 2007, p. 412.

36.  Sykes 2008, p. 43.

37.  Micozzi, P.; Alladio, F.; Mancuso, A.; Rogier, F. (September 2010). "Ideal MHD stability limits of the PROTO-SPHERA configuration". Nuclear Fusion. 50 (9). 095004. Bibcode: 2010NucFu..50i5004M. doi: 10.1088/0029-5515/50/9/095004. S2CID: 54808693.

38.  Yican Wu; Lijian Qiu; Yixue Chen (November 2000). "Conceptual study on liquid metal center conductor post in spherical tokamak reactors". Fusion Engineering and Design. 51–52: 395–399. Bibcode: 2000FusED..51..395W. doi: 10.1016/S0920-3796(00)00301-X. ISSN: 0920-3796.

39.  Sweeney, R.; Creely, A. J.; Doody, J.; Fülöp, T.; Garnier, D. T.; Granetz, R.; Greenwald, M.; Hesslow, L.; Irby, J.; Izzo, V. A.; La Haye, R. J. (2020). "MHD stability and disruptions in the SPARC tokamak". Journal of Plasma Physics. 86 (5): 865860507. Bibcode:2020JPlPh..86e8607S. doi: 10.1017/S0022377820001129. ISSN: 0022-3778. S2CID: 224869796.

40.  Kuang, A. Q.; Ballinger, S.; Brunner, D.; Canik, J.; Creely, A. J.; Gray, T.; Greenwald, M.; Hughes, J. W.; Irby, J.; LaBombard, B.; Lipschultz, B. (2020). "Divertor heat flux challenge and mitigation in SPARC". Journal of Plasma Physics. 86 (5): 865860505. Bibcode:2020JPlPh..86e8605K. doi:10.1017/S0022377820001117. ISSN: 0022-3778. S2CID: 224847975.

41. Casali, L; Eldon, D; et al. (2022). "Impurity leakage and radiative cooling in the first nitrogen and neon seeding study in the closed DIII-D SAS configuration". Nucl. Fusion. 62 (2): 026021. Bibcode: 2022NucFu..62b6021C. doi: 10.1088/1741-4326/ac3e84. OSTI: 1863590. S2CID: 244820223.