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Scientific officers, engineers from Plasma Research have manufactured parts of plasma chambers where fusion reactions will take place for energy generation
Gujarat scientists and engineers constitute the core of the team working on International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and engineering mega project in France which aims to generate energy from nuclear fusion. India is providing one-tenth of components through Gujarat-based Institute for Plasma Research (IPR). About 40 countries are part of the international collaborative project.
IPR has manufactured the cryostat and cryogenic system of the plasma chamber where the fusion reactions will take place for the first time in 2025. IPR is a nodal agency under DAE and is responsible for the delivery of ITER parts from India. Scientists and engineers from Gujarat are working on this project of recreating the energy source of the Sun on Earth. Mirror spoke to few scientists and engineers from Gujarat who are making India proud with their ITER feat.
Hitensinh Vaghela, scientific officer at IPR and Project Manager of Cryogenic System, has been associated with the ITER-India project for 10 years now. Vaghela is heading the cryogenic system which will carry cryogens (liquid helium and nitrogen) to the parts of tokamak device manufactured in Kalol. He said, “Without proper cryogen distribution the tokamak cannot function. Gujarat has further marked its technological strength through supply and installation of cryolines and cryodistribution through engineering achievement”.
Girish Kumar Gupta, scientific officer at IPR and project manager of cryostat, has been in Gujarat since the time the project commenced in 2005. The plant at Hazira in Surat is manufacturing the cryostat, a huge vacuum vessel (30m height x 30 m diameter) which will be the world’s largest stainless steel thermos with super-cooled liquids. These liquids are meant for controlling high temperatures generated during fusion reactions. “At present the components are in advanced stage of fabrication” Gupta said.
Dipal Soni, scientific officer at IPR, said, “IPR at ITER is pushing the boundaries of engineering and manufacturing in fields like robotics, engineering, electromagnetics, power electronics and cryogenics.” Pratik Patel, Scientific officer at IPR and associated with Cryolines and Cryodistribution, said, “Participation of India in the ITER project with its huge scientific talent and industrial competence has provided an opportunity to Gujarat to master cutting edge technologies.”
Manoj Patel, Scientific Engineer at IPR, is associated with development of cryostat. “If the tokamak technology is mastered, there will be carbon free source of power and the nuclear fusion will be a weapon in fighting climate change and rising global temperatures, besides generating cheap electricity.” |
