General Fusion Forges Ahead on Unique Magnetized Target Fusion Technology with Fabrication of At-Scale Fusion Vessel Trial Ring

Construction of General Fusion’s demonstration machine, which is being built at the UK Atomic Energy Agency’s Culham Campus, advanced significantly with the fabrication of an at-scale fusion vessel trial ring by Sheffield Forgemasters.

This critical component will confirm the specifications of the thick-walled fusion vessel, designed to withstand the high temperatures and compressive forces needed to create fusion energy with General Fusion’s practical technology – Magnetized Targeted Fusion (MTF).

The vessel is designed to be modular, made up of 11 steel rings bolted together on site. In the future, this cost-effective and efficient method will enable General Fusion to deploy its commercial machines quickly.

The trial ring’s specifications are the same as the rings planned for the fusion demonstration machine and allow the engineering team to validate the performance of the high-strength steel alloy, finalize the vessel design, and confirm the manufacturing process.

The fusion demonstration machine will create fusion conditions, including achieving a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius in a power-plant-relevant environment. Its results will provide the information needed to design and build a commercial pilot plant that generates electricity at an affordable price.

“Sheffield Forgemasters brings to this project over 200 years of expertise creating complex steel components,” said Greg Twinney, Chief Executive Officer, of General Fusion. “Teaming up with world-leading specialists allows us to focus on our commercialization plan and stay on pace to generate zero-carbon electricity by the early 2030s.”

“At Sheffield Forgemasters, we pride ourselves on our innovation and have extensive knowledge and experience in establishing practical manufacturing solutions for disruptive technologies, such as fusion energy,” said David Bond, Chief Executive Officer, of Sheffield Forgemasters. “We are thrilled to be a part of this project and to play a role in bringing fusion energy to the world.”

To create the trial ring, a large steel ingot was forged in an open-die press, forming the steel into a donut shape with a diameter of just over three meters. Next, the ingot will be rolled and expanded into a larger, thinner ring; at this point, the ring will span 7.6 meters in diameter. Then, 56 holes will be drilled into the ring. These replicate the holes that will transmit high-pressure gas from the compression drivers to a spinning interior rotor in the fusion demonstration machine. The pressure change will push smaller pistons to collapse General Fusion’s proprietary liquid metal liner around hydrogen plasma and create fusion.

The final trial ring will weigh an impressive 42 metric tons. Sheffield Forgemasters’ engineering team will complete non-destructive testing on the trial ring, which can include visual, ultrasonic, dye-penetrant, and magnetic particle inspection, as well as eddy current testing.

“At General Fusion, every decision we make is guided by our mission to bring affordable fusion energy to the electricity grid in a practical way. Projects such as this cultivate our fusion supply chain and show that the time for fusion energy is now,” said Mr. Twinney.

About General Fusion

General Fusion is pursuing the fastest and most practical path to commercial fusion energy and is based in Vancouver, Canada, with locations in London, UK, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. The company was established in 2002 and is funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders, and technology pioneers.

Learn more at www.generalfusion.com.

About Sheffield Forgemasters

Sheffield Forgemasters specializes in the design and manufacture of high-integrity forgings and castings for the world’s most complex engineering challenges.

The company operates a fully integrated end-to-end manufacturing process, including steel-making, forge, foundry, machining, and testing, from a single site in Sheffield. Some of the largest bespoke engineered steel products in the world are produced with a capacity for castings of up to 350 tonnes and forgings of up to 200 tonnes of finished weight.

Global markets served to include Defence, Civil Nuclear, Offshore, Power Generation, Renewables, Steel Plant, Steel Processing, and Ingot & Bar.

The company was acquired in August 2021 by the Ministry of Defence which intends to invest up to £400m over the next 10 years to re-capitalize defense-critical plant and equipment on site.