US energy company General Atomics has revealed its concept design for a fusion power plant. The plan opted for the steady-state, compact tokamak design which uses powerful magnets and microwave heating to create a plasma for a prolonged period of time.

One of the main design features is a modular approach to the ‘breeding blanket’ which produces tritium to make the fusion fuel cycle self-sufficient.

A spokesperson for General Atomics said of the fusion process, “Fusion is the process that powers the stars and offers the potential for nearly limitless clean energy. It occurs when two light nuclei combine to form a new one, releasing vast amounts of energy. Researchers can achieve fusion using a “tokamak,” which uses heat and electromagnets to create the necessary heat and pressure to force the nuclei to fuse.”

For more information on a similar fusion design based in the UK, listen to Engineering Matters Episode #96 Fusion: Britain Builds a Star.