View source for T-15 (reactor)

{{Infobox fusion devices
|name                 = T-15
|fullname             = Tokamak-15
|image                = 1987 CPA 5891.jpg
|imagetitle           = T-15 tokamak on a 1987 USSR stamp <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iter.org/newsline/152/477 |title=The second life of Tokamak T-15 |date=5 November 2010 |website=www.iter.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170628151130/https://www.iter.org/newsline/152/477 |archive-date=28 June 2017}}</ref>
|type                 = [[Tokamak]]
|city                 = [[Moscow]]
|state                = 
|country              = [[Russia]]
|coordinates          = <!-- {{coord|latitude|longitude|type:city|display=inline,title}} -->
|affiliation          = [[Kurchatov Institute]]
|major_radius         = {{cvt|2.43|m}}
|minor_radius         = {{cvt|0.7|m}}
|volume               = {{val|50|ul=m3}}
|field                = {{cvt|3.6|T}}
|heating              = {{val|3|ul=MW}}
|power                = <!-- {{val|00|ul=MW}} -->
|time                 = <!-- {{val|00|ul=s}} -->
|current              = <!-- {{val|00|ul=A}} -->
|temperature          = <!-- {{val|00|e=6|ul=K}} -->
|construction_date    = 
|operation_start_year = 1988
|operation_end_year   = 1995
|ongoing              = 
|prev                 = 
|next                 = T-15MD
|related              = 
|website              = <!-- {{url|insert here}} -->
|other_links          = 
}}
The '''T-15''' (or '''Tokamak-15''') is a Russian (previously Soviet) [[nuclear fusion]] research reactor located at the [[Kurchatov Institute]], which is based on the (Soviet-invented) [[tokamak]] design.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-02-25|title=Russian Research Centre "Kurchatov Institute"|url=http://www.kiae.ru/eng/str/inf/o11nsi.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050225172107/http://www.kiae.ru/eng/str/inf/o11nsi.htm|archive-date=2005-02-25|access-date=2020-06-20}}</ref> It was the first industrial prototype fusion reactor to use [[superconducting]] magnets to control the [[Plasma (physics)|plasma]].<ref name="Smirnov2010">{{cite journal|last1=Smirnov|first1=V.P.|title=Tokamak foundation in USSR/Russia 1950–1990|journal=Nuclear Fusion|volume=50|issue=1|year=2010|pages=014003|issn=0029-5515|doi=10.1088/0029-5515/50/1/014003|bibcode=2010NucFu..50a4003S|url=https://fire.pppl.gov/nf_50th_5_Smirnov.pdf|citeseerx=10.1.1.361.8023|s2cid=17487157 }}</ref> These enormous superconducting magnets confined the plasma the reactor produced, but failed to sustain it for more than just a few seconds. Despite not being immediately applicable, this new technological advancement proved to the USSR that they were on the right path. In the original (circular cross-section with [[divertor|limiter]]) shape, a toroidal chamber design, it had a major radius of {{val|2.43|u=m}} and minor radius {{val|0.7|u=m}}.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/BF01138918 | doi=10.1007/BF01138918 | title=The T-15 tokamak. Basic characteristics and research program | date=1982 | last1=Belyakov | first1=V. P. | last2=Glukhikh | first2=V. A. | last3=Kavun | first3=A. M. | last4=Kadomtsev | first4=B. B. | last5=Kovalenko | first5=V. D. | last6=Kostenko | first6=A. I. | last7=Malyshev | first7=I. F. | last8=Monoszon | first8=N. A. | last9=Popkov | first9=G. N. | last10=Stavisskii | first10=B. A. | last11=Strelkov | first11=V. S. | journal=Soviet Atomic Energy | volume=52 | issue=2 | pages=103–111 }}</ref>

The T-15 achieved creating its first thermonuclear plasma in 1988 and the reactor remained operational until 1995. The plasma created was thought to solve a number of issues engineers have struggled with in the past.{{clarify|date=December 2015}}{{citation needed|date=December 2015}} This combined with the USSR's desire for cheaper energy ensured the continuing progress of the T-15 under [[Mikhail S. Gorbachev]]. It was designed to replace the country's use of gas and coal as the primary sources of energy.

It achieved {{val|1|u=MA}} and {{val|1.5|u=MW}} injection for 1 second pulse.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sunist.org/shared%20documents/FEC2006/Kurchatov%20Institute/Kirnev_FT_P7_3.pdf |title=Superconducting Tokamak T-15 Upgrade. Kirnev et al. |access-date=2014-08-07 |archive-date=2014-08-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811070012/http://www.sunist.org/shared%20documents/FEC2006/Kurchatov%20Institute/Kirnev_FT_P7_3.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> It carried out about 100 shots before closing (in 1995) due to a lack of funds.<ref name=IN2010>[http://www.iter.org/newsline/152/477] The Second Life of Tokamak T-15, Iter newsline, 5 November 2010</ref>

== 1996 upgrade ==
From 1996 to 1998 a series of upgrades were made to the reactor, in order to conduct preliminary research for the design work on the [[International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor]] or ITER. One of the upgrades converted the tokamak to a D-shape divertor design with a major plasma radius of {{val|1.5|u=m}}. ITER will also use superconducting magnets. The nuclear predecessors before such as the [[T-10 (tokamak)|T-10]] were capable of reaching {{val|16.7|u=MK}} plasma temperature. This increased temperature made it possible to introduce the electron cyclotron resonance (ECR), ion cyclotron resonance (ICR), and neutral atoms, as to maintain the reactions.{{citation needed|date=December 2015}}

== Upgrade to T-15MD ==
[[Image:T-15MD Vacuum vessel shell.jpg|250px|thumb|T-15MD vacuum vessel shell]]
[[Image:T-15 Toroidal winding and poloidal field coils.jpg|250px|thumb|T-15MD toroidal winding and poloidal field coils after disassembly]]
In the year 2010 it was decided to upgrade the reactor.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20180826140256/https://indico.desy.de/indico/event/18319/material/slides/3.pdf TOKAMAK T-15MD: experience of scientific and technical project realization in RUSSIA (2017)]</ref> The upgraded machine is called '''T-15MD'''. On the basis of the T-15 there will be created a [[nuclear fusion–fission hybrid]] reactor, intended to use the neutrons generated by a core fusion reactor component to incite fission in otherwise nonfissile fuels, and to explore the feasibility of such a system for power generation.<ref>[http://bashny.net/t/en/295165 Upgraded Russian tokamak T-15 launch in 2018]</ref><ref>[http://tass.ru/nauka/1664693 Пуск модернизированной российской термоядерной установки ожидается в 2018 году]</ref> Assembly of the magnetic coils was finished in August 2019.<ref name="Khvostenko28FEC">{{cite journal|url=https://conferences.iaea.org/event/214/contributions/17260/|title=Tokamak T-15MD – preparing for physical start-up|author=Petr Khvostenko|journal=28th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference}}</ref> As of early 2020 the status of construction was reported as "entering the final phase".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Khvostenko|first=P. P.|date=2020|title=Preparation to physical start up of tokamak T-15MD has reached the final stage|url=http://vant.iterru.ru/vant_2020_1/5.pdf}}</ref> At the end of 2020, preparations for the physical start-up of T-15MD were completed.<ref name="Khvostenko28FEC"/> The physical launch took place in May 2021 and further hardware upgrades are planned until 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsrussia-launches-t-15md-tokamak-at-the-kurchatov-institute-8757349|date=2021-05-20|title=Russia launches T-15MD tokamak at the Kurchatov Institute|work=Nuclear Engineering International}}</ref>

T-15MD has a major radius ''R''&nbsp;=&nbsp;{{val|1.48|u=m}} and a minor radius ''a''&nbsp;=&nbsp;{{val|0.67|u=m}}. The toroidal magnetic field is {{val|2|u=T}}, produced by ordinary conducting coils. The intended plasma current is {{val|2|u=MA}}, which is planned to be sustained for {{val|40|u=s}} with neutral particle injection and microwaves, and without using inductive current drive.<ref name="LitvakRomannikov2017">{{cite journal|last1=Litvak|first1=A.G.|last2=Romannikov|first2=Alexander|title=Medium size tokamak T-15MD as a base for experimental fusion research in Russian Federation|journal=EPJ Web of Conferences|volume=149|year=2017|pages=01007|issn=2100-014X|doi=10.1051/epjconf/201714901007|bibcode=2017EPJWC.14901007R|doi-access=free}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*Josephson, P. R. (2000). Red atom: Russia's nuclear power program from Stalin to today. New York: W.H. Freeman.
*Effects of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident on Utility Share Prices. Rajiv Kalra, Glenn V. Henderson, Jr. and Gary A. Raines. Quarterly Journal of Business and Economics, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Spring, 1993), pp.&nbsp;52–77.

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050225172107/http://www.kiae.ru/eng/str/inf/o11nsi.htm Kurchatov Institute T-15]

{{fusion experiments}}
{{Nuclear power in Russia}}

{{coord|55.8014|N|37.4769|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}

[[Category:Tokamaks]]
[[Category:Nuclear technology in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Soviet inventions]]