The top student must be diligent.

Chapter 244 Chu Lansheng: Follow Chief Architect Xiao’s Instructions
Of course, physics still exists.

This is the information gap.

It seemed like Chu Lansheng who was standing by knew something about this, so when faced with the current situation, he was shocked and amazed.

Others like Cao Xu who had no idea about the information were just confused. Several other people who came from the Institute of Western Physics were holding their heads with an expression of disbelief on their faces, exactly the same as Cao Xu.

Just when the entire control room was filled with joy, Xiao Yi, the chief designer, finally spoke up: "Ahem, okay, don't be happy yet, the 300 seconds are up now."

Everyone was talking about it and immediately turned to look at the big screen. As expected, they found that the timer, which was originally for more than 3 seconds, had changed the number in the hundreds place to , while the numbers behind it were still rising.

This means that they can still continue!

Judging from the current situation, let alone 300 seconds, even 500 seconds or even 1000 seconds will be no problem at all!
Someone couldn't help but shout to Xiao Yi: "Chief Engineer Xiao, can we just try to go for 1000 seconds?"

The others also looked at Xiao Yi expectantly.

You should know that among the researchers on site, the largest number are from EAST. Under the current conditions, reaching 1000 seconds is itself one of the three major scientific goals of EAST.

EAST has three major scientific goals: first, to achieve a plasma current of 1 trillion amperes; second, 1 million degrees Celsius; and third, 1000 seconds of operating time.

Before this, they had already achieved these three goals of EAST.

However, they were all reached independently, not jointly.

Like, for a 1000-second run time, they just didn't achieve that at 1 million degrees Celsius and 1 megaampere of plasma current.

However, now, the goal they had always dreamed of was right in front of them, and they were just about to reach out and grab it.

Moreover, if they really reach 1000 seconds, the whole world will probably focus their attention on them, and they will become the people that the whole world pays attention to.

How could this not make them excited?
However, Xiao Yi shook his head. It was precisely because it might attract too much attention and be too high-profile that he did not plan to complete it now.

He said: "There is no rush for 1000 seconds. Let's wait for the next time to reach the 1000-second goal."

Everyone could only sigh with regret.

"But next, we have another goal."

Xiao Yi said: "Verify the power generation efficiency of the magnetohydrodynamic generator."

Although UOmini has an external cooling cycle, it is not equipped with a steam turbine generator. The purpose of this is mainly to hide the true level of UOmini. Otherwise, if the ultimate goal of boiling water to generate electricity is really achieved, it would probably be more shocking than boiling for 1000 seconds.

However, if you are just verifying the operation of the magnetohydrodynamic generator, the vibration will not be as strong as that caused by the steam turbine generator.

After all, the magnetohydrodynamic generator only utilizes 20% of the energy generated in the nuclear fusion reaction. Even if the energy conversion efficiency of the magnetohydrodynamic generator can reach about 70%, it is only about 14% at most.

The real big deal is boiling the water.

Therefore, the verification of magnetohydrodynamic power generation may surprise the nuclear fusion community a little, but it will not cause a complete shock.

"Magnetic confinement team, get ready now, prepare to switch the magnetic confinement mode to B mode."

Xiao Yi immediately took out the walkie-talkie and gave the order.

"Yes! The magnetic confinement group is preparing... the functions have been debugged and are ready!"

Soon, the voice of the head of the magnetic confinement team came from the intercom.

Everyone present held their breath and looked up at the screen in front of them, waiting for the result.

At this time, Xiao Yi said again: "Okay! Start Mode B!"

The next moment, the magnetic field lines displayed on another screen suddenly changed slowly.

Taking into account that the trajectory of the plasma will also change during the change of the magnetic field, and when these high-temperature plasmas enter the U-shaped tube from the O-tube, improper control may cause part of the plasma to collide with the intersection. Therefore, in order to avoid this, the change of the magnetic field is relatively slow.

So, as the magnetic field changes, it can be observed through the infrared observation instrument that the high-temperature plasma has smoothly entered the U-shaped tube.

At this time, the magnetohydrodynamic generator that hit the curved surface of the U-shaped tube also started immediately. Electric current was immediately passed through the superconducting wires on both sides, forming a positive and negative magnetic field. Then, the charged high-temperature plasma was attracted by the magnetic field and directly collided with the positive and negative poles, and the electric current was immediately passed!

"It has been detected that the magnetohydrodynamic generator has started to generate electricity!"

In the control room, everyone immediately observed the data displayed on the big screen.

In just a moment, the efficiency of the magnetohydrodynamic generator soared to over 30MW.

"Fuck! 30MW!"

"Brilliant!"

There was a burst of exclamations in the entire control room.

Of course, the power generation capacity of 30MW is not very high.

The generating capacity of a single unit in a common thermal power plant is probably several hundred MW.

But you have to know that this is just a small fusion device. The upper limit of power generation is relatively low. When it is converted to a magnetohydrodynamic generator, it becomes even smaller.

Moreover, if we compare the mass of fuel they input, thermal power generators really can’t catch up!
That’s a gap of millions of times!

Applause suddenly broke out throughout the control room.

Xiao Yi also smiled slightly.

This time, it can be said that China has achieved nuclear fusion power generation for the first time, and it can also be said that it is the first time in the world to achieve nuclear fusion magnetohydrodynamic power generation.

Before, China had basically not achieved power generation, and mainly focused on experimental feasibility.

After all, generating electricity before feasibility is achieved is basically just for the sake of fun.

Now, they have finally achieved power generation after achieving all the other goals step by step.

totally different.

However, when the ignition is carried out next time, things will be even more different.

The next ignition will probably not be called verification or experiment...

When the power generation time reached 50 seconds and the whole machine operation time reached 370 seconds, Xiao Yi said: "Okay, this ignition test is over. All units, prepare for shutdown."

"Yes!"

Responses from various groups were heard over the intercom, but most of the responses contained a sense of loss.

Perhaps it is because they have never been so close to success as they are now.

But no matter what, you still have to shut down when it’s time to shut down.

First, the fuel group begins to stop injecting fuel. This is the most convenient way to stop nuclear fusion, which is also one of the reasons why nuclear fusion power generation is very safe.

Although nuclear fusion is related to "nuclear" and needs to be maintained at a temperature of more than 1 million degrees, in fact, it is safer than thermal power generation, not to mention nuclear fission power generation.

In terms of fuel, the deuterium and tritium needed for nuclear fusion are both non-toxic and non-radioactive isotopes, which will not pose a direct threat to the environment and human health. The helium produced in the end is also a stable, non-toxic, non-radioactive inert gas, which will not have any impact on the environment. For example, coal, oil, and natural gas used in thermal power generation are all natural resources, especially oil, which has directly brought wars to the world. Deuterium, the fuel for nuclear fusion, is in the sea and can be extracted with technology. It is almost inexhaustible. Tritium is a little more troublesome, but it will not cause wars like oil in the end. In other aspects, there are safety hazards in the mining, transportation, storage and combustion processes, and there will be risks such as fire, explosion, and toxic gas leakage. As for nuclear fission power generation, it goes without saying that various radioactive elements as fuels are extremely unsafe in themselves, and the radioactivity of the final product has affected a considerable amount of land.

As for the safety of the operation process, it is also a very important point. Although nuclear fusion requires a temperature of more than 100 million degrees and extremely strong magnetic field conditions, this actually also shows the harshness of the reaction conditions. Once the reaction conditions deviate slightly, the fusion reaction will not be able to be maintained and will stop quickly. There is no risk of losing control at all. As for explosions in thermal power plants, they are everywhere, and explosions in nuclear fission power plants have caused quite a few tragedies, such as the Chernobyl incident and the Fukushima nuclear leak, needless to say.

There are other areas where comparison can be made. Nuclear fusion can be called flawless in all aspects.

As an important node in the climb of the energy technology tree, nuclear fusion is a way of obtaining energy that seems to be perfectly designed.

"The fuel injection has stopped."

The voice of the fuel control group came from the intercom. As the fuel was no longer supplied, the concentration of deuterium and tritium ions dropped rapidly, and eventually failed to meet the requirements of the Lawson criterion. The fusion reaction could not sustain itself. In addition, the heating group had stopped heating long ago. The fusion reaction stopped quickly in just a few seconds, and the interior also cooled down quickly. The temperature displayed on the large screen dropped from 1.5 million degrees to less than a thousand degrees in a very short time.

The remaining temperature is basically the waste heat after the inner wall absorbs the heat, and with the circulation of the cooling system, this waste heat is quickly taken away.

At this time, Xiao Yi pressed the button again to stop the input of current.

At this point, the ignition test has come to an end.

Xiao Yi put down the walkie-talkie and was the first to applaud.

The people present seemed to be still immersed in the experience just now and had not come back to their senses. It was not until they heard Xiao Yi's applause that they all came to their senses and applauded excitedly.

Some researchers even hugged each other happily or high-fived each other.

Only when the applause gradually died down did Xiao Yi pick up the microphone and said with a smile: "Okay, everyone, I declare that this ignition test has been a complete success, and we have also achieved an unexpected achievement, which is the Lawson criterion!"

As the chief designer announced the success, the whole audience burst into applause again.

Reaching the Lawson criterion was indeed a pleasant surprise for them.

"Of course, I also know that everyone may still have regrets, such as not being able to try to break 1000 seconds, or even higher, but what I want to say is that after this time, there will definitely be a next time, and maybe the next time will be another achievement that is even more brilliant than 1000 seconds."

“So, please stay tuned!”

"Also, to celebrate today's success, all members will have three days off starting tomorrow!"

These words pushed the atmosphere of the whole venue to another climax.

Almost everyone cheered.

"ohhhhh!"

"Long live Chief Master Xiao!"

"Chief Master Xiao is awesome!"

Perhaps only the people from the Institute of Western Physics were not particularly happy.

You are on vacation, what about them?
Now they just want to know, why?
why?
Aren’t they here just to see if this UO structure works?

How come it seems that we are not far from achieving nuclear fusion?
What the hell...

Looking at the people around them who were cheering, they deeply felt a saying: people’s sorrows and joys are not shared; they just feel it is noise.

"Mr. Chu, what do you say now?"

Li Jiangan looked at Chu Lansheng beside him with a smile.

Chu Lansheng snorted coldly and said, "I still don't agree."

"Wow? You really are just being stubborn." Li Jiangan glared and immediately mocked.

"You are not the chief engineer, so what does it have to do with you? I want to talk to Chief Engineer Xiao." Chu Lansheng laughed, then he walked towards Xiao Yi.

"Hey!" Li Jiangan followed him. He wanted to know what this old bitch wanted to say.

Chu Lansheng came to Xiao Yi's side and said, "Chief Engineer Xiao, I feel like your UO structure is still a little off."

"Your magnetohydrodynamic generator will eventually come into direct contact with plasma. How can the channel material of your magnetohydrodynamic generator withstand it for a long time?"

When Li Jiangan heard this question, he cursed, "Old man, you're asking this even though you already know the answer, right?"

We are all using the same material, so why do we need to ask so many questions?
But Chu Lansheng ignored him and just looked at Xiao Yi.

Xiao Yi smiled and replied: "When the channel material is severely worn, the magnetic field will be adjusted to keep the plasma running in the O-tube. At this time, the U-tube is in a safe state, and then the magnetohydrodynamic generator can be replaced."

This is indeed a key issue. After all, the magnetohydrodynamic generator will directly face high-temperature plasma, so the wear rate will inevitably be faster than the wall materials in other places. According to Xiao Yi's calculations, it will need to be replaced about every 2-4 years.

However, thanks to the functionality of the UO structure, replacement can be done without shutting down the machine, so there is no need to worry.

However, Chu Lansheng seemed a little dissatisfied with this answer and asked, "But you can't keep changing!"

Xiao Yi raised his eyebrows. He probably guessed Chu Lansheng's purpose.

Li Jiangan also guessed it at this time: "You old man, you are just pretending. What are you thinking? Do you think we can't see it?"

Chu Lansheng decisively stopped pretending and completely changed his attitude, begging: "Please, Chief Engineer Xiao, let me take a look at your new material!"

"You know, this kind of material is exactly what those of us who study nuclear fusion have been pursuing all our lives."

Li Jiangan, who was standing next to him, pointed at him and laughed: "Chu Lansheng, Chu Lansheng, this day will come for you too!"

Chu Lansheng still ignored this old rival.

Anyway, as long as he can see the material now, his dream will come true.

His ultimate purpose of coming here today was to see this material that could resist high-energy neutrons.

Xiao Yi looked at the sincere eyes of the old academician, and finally, he nodded in agreement.

……

Time passed quickly.

Before the relevant news came out, the domestic nuclear physics field first heard Chu Lansheng’s announcement: From now on, everything related to controlled nuclear fusion will be completely subject to all instructions from Chief Engineer Xiao, and whatever Chief Engineer Xiao says is the final word.

As soon as this announcement came out, a lot of people were confused.

This is strange. Didn’t Academician Chu have a tit-for-tat relationship with Xiao Yi before?

Why is it suddenly like this now?

However, before they could ask, another piece of news came in an even more violent way.

The UO structure verification device successfully achieved a long-term operation of 1 megaampere plasma current, 1.5 million degrees, and 370 seconds, and successfully met the Lawson criterion during the operation. At the same time, it achieved nuclear fusion power generation for the first time in China and magnetohydrodynamic power generation for the first time in the world, with a power generation capacity of 30MW!
For a moment, all nuclear physicists who learned the news were stunned.

Then, the whole society was in an uproar.

……

(End of this chapter)