Chapter 1484 The Starting Point of the Space Base

Three days later, Factory 504 entered the highest state of alert.

In the central control room, more than 20 display screens reflect the status of various reactor systems in real time.

Peng Juexian stood in front of the main console and watched the technicians complete the final system check.

Huang Zhitao was checking the control parameters with Su Yun, and both of them looked extremely focused.

"The radiation source is in place, the proton accelerator energy is stabilized at 20MeV, and the beam intensity is 500mA."

"Helium purity is 99.999%, dew point is -70c, oxygen content is less than 0.1ppm."

"The magnet pre-cooling is completed, the superconducting coil temperature is 4.2K, and the magnetic field uniformity reaches 0.01%."

"..."

Han Chenfeng looked up from the communicator: "According to the operating procedures, everything is ready."

Peng Jue took a deep breath and looked around at every face in the control room.

In the past two years, they have experienced so many failures and setbacks, just for this moment.

"Let's get started."

As the command was given, the main helium fan emitted a low hum, and high-pressure helium began to circulate along the two-meter-diameter pipe.

At the same time, the reactor drum assembly slowly rotates, sending the first batch of fuel balls into the core area.

Next is the most critical step before the reactor is officially started——

The proton accelerator was started, and a high-energy particle flow simulating cosmic rays penetrated the one-meter-thick concrete shielding layer and hit the core directly.

On a microscopic scale, this transformation is as magnificent as the creation of the universe.

Each incident proton is like a miniature supernova, releasing pions, neutrons and gamma rays the moment it hits the tungsten target nucleus. These secondary particles then penetrate the beryllium multiplier at nearly the speed of light, where each fast neutron produces two secondary neutrons in the beryllium nucleus through the (n, 2n) reaction.

Eventually, this amplified neutron stream pours into the core like a rainstorm, colliding with the uranium-235 nuclei.

Each successful collision causes the heavy nucleus to fission, releasing 2-3 new neutrons and a surge of binding energy.

“中子产额6.5x10?6?6n/cm?0?6，正在上升。”

The monitor's voice was trembling.

Most of the operators in this startup test were from Factory 504. They were not the elderly people who had followed Peng Juexian to conduct tests in the Netherlands. It was inevitable that they would experience some psychological fluctuations due to excitement or nervousness.

Peng Juexian stared at the curve chart. The neutron density was like a stream in early spring, intermittent at first, but gradually became continuous and powerful.

Inside the reactor pressure vessel, the temperature of helium rises at a rate of 15K per minute, and the TRISO particles in the fuel ball begin to emit blue Cherenkov radiation.

Huang Zhitao stared at the neutron energy spectrum analyzer: "The proportion of fast neutrons is in line with expectations, and the resonance absorption peak appears at 5.2eV, which is exactly the same as our simulation."

“7.2x10?6?8n/cm?0?6，链式反应开始自持。”

Han Chenfeng wiped the sweat from his forehead and ordered the control rod to be raised to compensate for the negative feedback caused by the temperature rise. The speed of the main helium fan increased accordingly, taking more heat out of the power generation channel. Su Yun's fingertips flew on the control panel: "The plasma pre-ionization system is ready and will start immediately once the temperature reaches the limit value."

There was a restrained cheer in the control room.

Then, there was a long wait.

Perhaps to ease his restless mood, after a moment of silence, Han Chenfeng took the initiative to speak:

"Academician Peng, can you tell me about your experiences in Europe?"

When it comes to nuclear energy research, ITER is still the most famous, at least in name.

Han Chenfeng didn't have the opportunity to participate in person, so it was impossible for him to say that he wasn't curious.

Peng Juexian squeezed his sore eyes.

There are so many things that happen during the HFR test that it’s hard to even begin.

After a while, he smiled bitterly and shook his head:

"The fuel data provided by the Dutch differed by 15% from the actual fuel loading. If Academician Chang had not discovered it early, we would have almost made a fool of ourselves in front of ITER."

Su Yun snorted coldly: "They must have done it on purpose..."

"The European tricks..." Han Chenfeng also expressed his opinion.

In fact, Peng Juexian really wanted to say that this time it was not the Europeans' fault, but since it involves the issue of weapons-grade nuclear devices, it is really inconvenient to say more.

I had to change the topic:

"But after the military parade last year, their attitude improved a lot. The Dutch agreed to almost all of our material and operational requirements..."

"..."

两个半小时后，中子密度终于突破10?6?0n/cm?0?6大关。

When the engineer finished his report, warm applause broke out in the control room.

The atmosphere that had been oppressive for a long time was relieved a little.

But the real test has just begun——

To produce plasma of sufficient concentration, the core outlet temperature must exceed 2000K.

"Temperature 1980K...1995K...2000K!"

Peng Juexian felt his heart beating so fast that it hurt.

On the screen, the spectrometer showed the 587.6nm helium I line and 468.6nm helium II line unique to helium plasma - this meant that countless helium atoms had stripped off their electrons at high temperatures, forming a fourth state of matter composed of free electrons and ions.

黄知涛突然惊呼：“看这个！”他指着质谱仪读数，“氦离子密度达到10?0?1m?6?3?0?6，电子温度3.5eV，完全满足发电要求！”

Han Chenfeng came to the microphone at the console and said solemnly:

"Report to Academician Peng, the HTR-PM reactor has reached criticality!"

The corners of Peng Juexian's mouth curled up slightly, but soon returned to normal:

"Raise the reactor control rods!"

This is also the experience gained in HFR testing.

When the reactor just reaches criticality, the core operation is still not stable enough. In order to avoid startup failure, additional compensation for xenon accumulation and negative feedback effects of core temperature is needed.

As the engineer completed the operation, the buzzing sound in everyone's ears became clearer and clearer.

That is because the main helium fan is automatically increasing its speed under system control to maintain a stable cooling gas flow.

Soon, the pressure and temperature inside the reactor rose further and gradually approached the yellow part of the indicator bar on the far right on the screen.

"The plasma detector has a signal!" Huang Zhitao suddenly raised his head, "Exit core temperature, 2113K!"

Another voice followed closely:

"Start the magnetohydrodynamic generator set!"

This time, the person who gave the order was Han Chenfeng, who was in charge of the power generation module.

A 20-megaampere current is instantly injected into the superconducting coil, creating a strong electromagnetic field in the annular power generation channel. At the same time, the high-temperature three-way valve is switched, and 2100K helium plasma rushes into the power generation channel at a speed of 120 meters per second.

Su Yun in front of the No. 15 operating table simultaneously started the pre-ionization system, and the radio frequency waves further increased the plasma ionization degree to %.

Each positively charged helium ion is affected by the Lorentz force in the magnetic field and deflected in a direction perpendicular to both the magnetic field and the flow velocity, while the free electrons with smaller mass move in the opposite direction.

This charge separation creates a potential difference between the electrodes on both sides of the power generation channel, and when the external circuit is connected, current begins to flow.

Su Yun stared at the reading of the Hall probe: "Plasma beta value 0.25, magnetic Reynolds number 80, flow stability is good."

"The voltage is stable at 48 kilovolts, the current is 160 amperes... the power generation capacity is 7.7 megawatts!"

A deafening cheer erupted in the control room.

The technicians high-fived each other, and some even secretly wiped away tears.

Peng Juexian walked to the main console and called up the curves of all key parameters.

The reactor is operating smoothly and its power generation efficiency is 12% higher than expected.

Most importantly, the entire system demonstrates the feasibility of directly converting nuclear energy into electromagnetic energy - which in the space environment means efficient power generation without the need for a large cooling system.

"All systems are running perfectly. We did it." Han Chenfeng took two steps forward and came to Peng Juexian's side. "Call Academician Chang."