Wendelstein 7-X
Wendelstein 7-X at the Greifswald branch of IPP is a large stellarator with modular superconducting coils, which enable steady state plasma operation in order to explore the reactor relevance of this concept.
Wendelstein 7-X is the world’s largest fusion device of the stellarator type. Its objective is to investigate the suitability of this type for a power plant. It is testing an optimised magnetic field for confining the plasma. A system of 50 non-planar and superconducting magnet coils - the technical core piece of the device - produces this field. It is expected that plasma equilibrium and confinement will be of a quality comparable to that of a tokamak of the same size. However, it will avoid the disadvantages of a large current flowing in a tokamak plasma: With plasma discharges lasting up to 30 minutes, Wendelstein 7-X is to demonstrate the essential stellarator property, viz. continuous operation.
The main assembly of Wendelstein 7-X was concluded in 2014, the first plasma was produced on 10th December 2015. Scientific experiments began with the first hydrogen plasma on 3 February 2016.
The investment costs for Wendelstein 7-X from 1995 until it reached its final configuration in December 2021 amount to 460 million euros. Including the costs for the institute site in Greifswald (i.e. buildings, personnel, material and operating costs), the total sum for this period is 1.44 billion euros.
Come along for a virtual tour!
The spectacular tour as 360-degree panorama takes you through the experimentation hall, then into the plasma vessel and the beam duct, through which ten-megawatt microwaves are injected into the plasma.
By mouse scroll or gyro-function one can view at any angle and zoom in on minute details, start brief videos where IPP scientists talk about their work, or call up background info. The panorama was recorded by photographer Volker Steger.
