CNL and First Light Fusion Partner to Explore Tritium Extraction Technologies – Yahoo Finance
Canada’s national nuclear laboratory collaborates on new research project to design a tritium extraction system for First Light’s innovative fusion reactor
CHALK RIVER, Ontario, Nov. 28, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaboration agreement with First Light Fusion, a leading clean energy company based in the United Kingdom that is pursuing an innovative new form of fusion power. Funded through CNL’s Canadian Nuclear Research Initiative (CNRI), the scope of the project includes the preliminary design of a system capable of extracting tritium from the First Light reactor, as well as the development of tritium processing and storage options.
Unlike a conventional nuclear reactor, which generates heat through fission (the splitting of atoms), fusion reactors generate electricity from the heat released when two atoms are fused together. Today, there is growing optimism that fusion could serve as a new source of carbon-free electricity for the world. One of the key features of deuterium tritium fueled fusion power plant designs is the ability to purposely produce tritium in the reactor, which is then used as reactor fuel, a process which requires tritium extraction, processing, storage, and management capabilities and systems, all key areas of expertise at CNL.
“CNL is thrilled to enter into this project with First Light Fusion, a company that shares our ambition and commitment to the pursuit of next-generation clean energy technologies,” commented Dr. Jeff Griffin, CNL’s Vice-President of Science & Technology. “If successfully deployed, fusion has the potential to serve as a transformative clean energy solution in the fight against climate change. That is a key objective within CNL’s mandate, and we will leverage our expertise in tritium-related research, combined with our dedicated, state-of-the-art Tritium Facility, to support First Light in the development of their innovative reactor design.”
“We are delighted to be working with Canadian Nuclear Laboratories on this critical project, as we look to a world powered by fusion energy,” said Dr. Nick Hawker, co-founder & CEO of First Light Fusion, the UK’s leading fusion energy company. “A First Light commercial power plant, based on our unique projectile approach, will avoid some of the biggest engineering barriers to that of other fusion approaches, including the production of tritium. Our design will allow tritium self-sufficiency, and CNL will support us with the initial design of a system capable of extracting tritium. Ultimately, the need for fusion is urgent, which is why we are working to solve fusion with the simplest machine possible.”
This plant design avoids the three biggest engineering challenges of fusion: preventing neutron damage, producing tritium, and managing extreme heat flux. Lithium is used to produce tritium, one of the two fusion fuels. Our design allows tritium self-sufficiency with pure lithium in the natural isotope balance. This is a major advantage as the only by-product is helium, and there is an established supply chain for normal lithium.
In April 2022, First Light announced it had achieved fusion in November 2021 – a world-first using their unique targets and the corresponding projectile technology.
The collaboration with First Light represents the third CNRI project where CNL’s expertise in tritium and hydrogen isotope separation is being leveraged to advanced nuclear technologies, demonstrating CNL’s growing momentum in this emerging clean energy space nationally and internationally. Among CNL’s responsibilities in the project is to choose two major tritium extraction candidate techniques on which system size and tritium inventory calculations, and assessments of safety and technological risks, will be performed. The tritium extraction system represents an essential part of tritium control in a fusion fuel cycle, and is a key factor in harvesting the tritium and limiting tritium permeation into the coolant. This is of fundamental significance for reactor licencing and safety, and demonstrates the fusion reactor self-sufficiency in terms of tritium production and consumption. CNL will also prepare recommendations for future laboratory work that could lead to the production of testing equipment used to validate the systems in a laboratory environment.
“CNL has a long and extensive history in the development of technologies and systems to safely manage tritium, given their presence in CANDU® reactors here in Canada,” commented Ian Castillo, Head of CNL’s Hydrogen & Tritium Technologies Directorate. “With the growing momentum and interest in fusion as a source of carbon-free electricity, we are increasingly leveraging these capabilities to help advance fusion reactor designs and technologies towards deployment. That is the objective of this project with First Light Fusion, and we are excited and eager to be part of it.”
Launched in 2019, the CNRI program was established by CNL to accelerate the deployment of new innovations, including small modular reactor (SMR) and advanced reactor (AR) designs, next-generation on-grid reactors and fusion technologies, by connecting reactor vendors with the facilities and expertise within Canada’s national nuclear laboratories. Among the many benefits of the program, participants are able to optimize resources, share technical knowledge, and gain access to CNL experts to help advance the commercialization of AR technologies. While the project with First Light was initiated during the third intake of the CNRI program, CNL recently launched the fourth intake, which has been expanded this year to accept applications from Canadian universities.
For more information on CNL, including its CNRI program, please visit www.cnl.ca.
About CNL
As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology organization, CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.
By leveraging the assets owned by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL also serves as the nexus between government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.
To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.
About First Light Fusion
First Light Fusion was spun out from the University of Oxford in 2011 to address the urgent need to decarbonise the global energy system. First Light’s inertial confinement approach aims to create the extreme temperatures and pressures required for fusion by compressing a target using a hypervelocity projectile. First Light’s approach to fusion, which is safe, clean, and virtually limitless, has the potential to transform the world’s energy system. Unlike existing nuclear, there is no long-lived waste, no meltdown risk, and raw materials can be found in abundance.
To learn more about FLF, please visit https://firstlightfusion.com/
CNL Contact:
Patrick Quinn
Director, Corporate Communications
1-866-886-2325
In this article, we discuss the 11 safe energy stocks for a retirement stock portfolio. If you want to read about some more energy stocks, go directly to Retirement Stock Portfolio: 5 Safe Energy Stocks to Consider. The energy sector has been one of the best performers in the S&P 500 over the past few […]
In this article, we will be taking a look at the 12 best climate change stocks to buy according to hedge funds. To skip our detailed analysis on climate change stocks and more, you can go directly to see the 5 Best Climate Change Stocks To Buy According To Hedge Funds. If there’s one global crisis […]
Thousands of containers have been detained by U.S. Customs and more have been held back or diverted from U.S. ports due to a new law targeting labor abuses in China.
The manufacturing of equipment for clean energy is moving back to the U.S. What’s behind it—and which companies stand to benefit.
JinkoSolar (JKS) inks a deal for the supply of 522MW of solar modules for Phase Santa Luzia Complex Project in Brazil.
The UK government is supporting projects to put solar panels in space and beam energy back to Earth.
Hanging bulbs that aren’t energy efficient could result in an increase in your electricity bill.
Steve M Smith FBIPP/Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce just achieved a major milestone in the quest to decarbonize air travel, after successfully testing an aircraft engine that runs on hydrogen fuel for the first time ever.The British automaker conducted the ground test using a Rolls-Royce AE 2100-A airplane engine, which runs on hydrogen fuel generated from wind and tidal power. The engine was built in partnership with easyJet in order to address shortcomings in the airline industry when it comes to green
There is a growing rebellion in the Conservative Party against its policy on onshore wind farms.
(Bloomberg) — Octopus Energy Group found local community support for new onshore wind farms that would be able to power more than 1.8 million homes as pressure builds on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to lift a ban on the clean power technology.Most Read from BloombergNext Covid-19 Strain May be More Dangerous, Lab Study ShowsKey Trump 2024 Rivals Silent After His White Supremacist MeetingThe British energy company uses a platform called Winder that helps match areas where residents want wind farms
The company has been under pressure from cord-cutting as Americans have moved from traditional pay-TV packages to streaming services.
Crypto prices dived amid continued market contagion triggered by the FTX collapse earlier this month. Crypto Markets Today is CoinDesk’s daily newsletter diving into what happened in today's crypto markets.
(Bloomberg) — Bank of Nova Scotia got a boost from its retail banking franchises in its fiscal fourth quarter, with businesses in Canada and abroad ramping up borrowing. Most Read from BloombergThese Are the Best and Worst Cities for Expats to Live and Work InScientists Revive 48,500-Year-Old ‘Zombie Virus’ Buried in IceBanks Stuck With $42 Billion Debt Seize Chance to Offload ItApple to Lose 6 Million iPhone Pros From Tumult at China PlantThis Is Where Luxury Property Prices May Rise and Fall
Mortgage rates that have doubled over the past year are sapping demand from the housing market, which saw prices decline for the third month in September.
Investors need to pay close attention to Barclays (BCS) stock based on the movements in the options market lately.
What happened on Monday, was largely profit-taking, pin action related to a couple of large names, and defensive selling.
A new consumer survey from GoTo reveals three out of four Americans still plan to spend with small businesses, despite economic uncertainty.
Ryan Pinder's years in public service included a year-long break to work at Deltec Bank, a Bahamanian firm with ties to FTX.
Germany’s automotive powerhouses look exposed as the rise of electric vehicles upsets the established order in the world’s largest car market.
Sam Reynolds writes that irreverent posts about lesser-known altcoins – and more significant tokens – can be destructive. Especially if people don’t get the irony. ALSO: Bitcoin drops as BlockFi files for bankruptcy protection.