Previous Year Question
India is an important member of the ‘International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor’. If this experiment succeeds, what is the immediate advantage for India?
It can use thorium in place of uranium for power generation
It can attain a global role in satellite navigation
It can drastically improve the efficiency of its fission reactors in power generation
It can build fusion reactors for power generation
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Option (d) is correct.
The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor—ITER aims to demonstrate the nuclear fusion process occurring in the Sun and stars under controlled conditions on Earth and establish the scientific and technological feasibility of large-scale, carbon-free fusion energy.
ITER will fuse light hydrogen isotopes such as deuterium and tritium. For this purpose, plasma will be heated to approximately 150 million °C and controlled inside a Tokamak with the help of powerful magnetic fields.
ITER is designed to generate 500 MW of fusion power in its plasma from 50 MW of external heating power, achieving Q = 10. ITER itself will not convert this fusion power into electricity; it will develop the technology, materials and operational knowledge required to construct future commercial fusion power plants.
Its success will provide India with capabilities related to cryogenics, superconducting magnets, plasma control, remote maintenance, tritium breeding and reactor engineering required for constructing fusion reactors. Therefore, the relevant advantage for India is the capability to build fusion reactors for power generation; it is not directly related to thorium use, satellite navigation or the efficiency of existing fission reactors.
According to the current project schedule, the Start of Research Operation is planned for 2034, full magnetic energy for 2036 and deuterium–tritium operation for 2039. India, China, the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the United States are the seven ITER Members.