Fusion energy

Luvata keeps developing new copper products for fusion reactors

Fusion energy has the capability to bring carbon neutral energy available to everyone. Luvata has been supporting fusion builders for decades; from visionary beginning to major advancements they are making today. Luvata thrives to meet the demands of this industry in any way possible. Many applications are created by tailoring to the precise needs of a reactor builder.

Fusion reactor is a high energy physics device fusing particles together in the plasma and at the same time energy is created in high quantities. Reactions create a massive heat flux where the energy can be captured. Materials used must withstand high energy neutrons, radiation and large forces in the plasma surroundings. On the other hand, plasma controlling magnets need cryogenic conditions in extreme low temperatures. Luvata can offer oxygen-free copper and other copper products for all these fusion energy applications and environments.

Luvata works closely together with fusion developing companies, institutes, and universities, and is also part of FinnFusion and European Fusion Business Association. During past years, we are proud to have been part of ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor), JET, JT-60, KSTAR, and many other publicly funded research facilities in the whole world.

Magnets for fusion devices

Magnets are crucial in magnetic confinement, as they can confine particle beams and plasma. Therefore, many kinds of magnets are used in fusion devices. Copper conductors are vital parts in magnets. Magnet technology is developing rapidly. Toroidal field coils, poloidal field coils and solenoid are used in ITER type tokamaks. Stellarator is another type of fusion reactor with magnetic coils. All these types of magnet coils are built from superconductors or resistive copper conductors. Often hollow conductors are the best solution for heat removal and recovery from magnets.

Cryogenic copper

Both low-temperature superconductors (LTS) and high-temperature superconductors (HTS) need extremely cold environment which is maintained in cryostats. All the conductors use copper, and it is often best to use cryogenic copper. Specific measurable in these products is RRR value. Cold copper OFE conductors from Luvata can have high RRR values for 4 K or 20 K.

High-conductivity CuCrZr for vessel components

Opposite to magnets, the operating space in the reactor is extremely hot. Fusion reactor itself produces energy as heat flux that must be conducted away from the front wall blanket modules and the divertor. Luvata offers CuCrZr alloys equivalent to ITER Grade CuCrZr. It has proven to withstand irradiation well without losing its conductivity and strength.

Oxygen-free copper for current feeder

High purity oxygen-free copper is made by Luvata to large scale of components for current feeders. This technology is crucial for applications like neutral beam injection and electron cyclotron heating, key components in fusion reactors. Forging expertise is used to form complex parts with homogeneous grain structure and with no orientation of the material.