Four cryogenic reactor fueling technologies to unlock continuous fusion power in US

A US nuclear fusion company has secured a license to use four advanced fueling technologies developed by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) to advance commercial fusion reactors. The licensing agreement was signed on Wednesday, August 5, during the Nuclear Opportunities Workshop in Tennessee. Under the deal, Type One Energy will gain access to a suite of cryogenic pellet fueling technologies for fusion reactors. Fusion reactors generate energy by fusing hydrogen isotopes at extremely high temperatures. To maintain the reaction, they must be continuously supplied with fuel. One of the most effective methods is cryogenic pellet fueling. It forms solid hydrogen pellets just a few degrees above absolute zero, before injecting them into the plasma at high speed. The approach could deliver fuel deeper into the plasma than conventional gas injection technologies. “Our continuing collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory is accelerating the commercialization of fusion energy,” John Canik, Type One Energy’s chief science and engineering officer, said. Improving reactor fueling The agreement covers four of the lab’s inventions that address challenges in fuel production, tritium handling, and stable reactor operation. The first is a tritium-compatible cryogenic pellet gas gun that fires tiny frozen hydrogen fuel pellets into the reactor’s plasma. It relies on materials that can safely handle radioactive tritium, adjusts pellet size in real time, and reduces wear and failures during long-term operation. The second invention is a tritium-compatible cryogenic screw extruder for plasma energy pellet injection. It continuously produces frozen fuel pellets while working safely with tritium. It keeps the radioactive fuel sealed in the system and supports different fuel mixtures, temperatures, and production rates. Type One Energy’s Matt Miles (L) and ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer signing the fusion technology licensing agreement.Credit: Alonda Hines / ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy In addition, the third invention is a pressure relief device that protects the fueling system from dangerous pressure buildup at temperatures below 20 kelvin (-423.7 degrees Fahrenheit). The reusable valve prevents damage to seals and improves the overall safety of the fueling system. Finally, the fourth technology is a closed-loop fuel recirculation system that can recover unused frozen fuel, convert it back into gas, and feed it into the pellet-making process. The system cuts fuel waste, limits radioactive inventory, and removes the need for separate gas-handling equipment. Sustaining fusion power Fusion reactors fueled by deuterium and tritium must be continuously refueled to replace the ions, which are consumed in the reaction and lost from the confining magnetic fields. Deuterium is abundant. In contrast, tritium is scarce, radioactive, and significantly more difficult to process safely. ORNL said current pellet injection systems cannot produce fuel pellets at the rates needed for commercial fusion reactors. The licensed technologies are intended to close that gap. Representatives from Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Type One Energy after the signing of the licensing agreement.Credit: Alonda Hines / ORNL, U.S. Dept. of Energy The technologies will support Type One Energy’s stellarator fusion power system, which uses complex magnetic fields to confine plasma. The firm has previously collaborated with ORNL on several fusion projects, including a high-heat-flux testing facility and work under the Department of Energy’s Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program. Stephen Streiffer, ORNL director, said that Type One Energy is a valued partner in fusion research. “This license is an exciting next step in our partnership, moving our fueling research out of the lab and into application, and we look forward to seeing these technologies contribute to the future of fusion energy,” Streiffer concluded in a press release.Recommended ArticlesGet the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Based in Skopje, North Macedonia. Her work has appeared in Daily Mail, Mirror, Daily Star, Yahoo, NationalWorld, Newsweek, Press Gazette and others. She covers stories on batteries, wind energy, sustainable shipping and new discoveries. When she's not chasing the next big science story, she's traveling, exploring new cultures, or enjoying good food with even better wine.