Kiran Vissa | December 5th, 2024
The Vanderbilt Fusion Project, which began as a group of freshmen brainstorming in their dorm room, is now the only fully student-led team in the U.S. building a nuclear reactor. With the reactor fully assembled, the team is eagerly awaiting the green light to activate it.
A typical nuclear reactor splits heavy atomic nuclei, usually uranium, to release energy, creating a risk of a catastrophic meltdown and long-lasting radioactive waste in the process of fission. Nuclear fusion is a much harder process. In contrast, fusion involves combining light nuclei, usually hydrogen, to create a heavier nucleus, releasing more energy with minimal radioactive waste and radiation risk.
Origins of the Fusion Project
Four years ago, Vanderbilt students came together with a seemingly impossible idea: build a nuclear reactor. Fascinated by the potential of fusion as a clean and essentially limitless energy source, the students saw an opportunity to create something groundbreaking, both as a contribution to science and as a way to gain hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology.
One of the biggest challenges they faced was the lack of formal mentorship. Without direct guidance from faculty, they had to rely on self-directed learning and collaboration. They spent two years researching fusion, learning its mechanics, and gathering parts from suppliers. From sourcing complex reactor components to mastering intricate safety protocols, the students encountered numerous technical hurdles. They took the initiative to reach out to faculty with nuclear expertise and piece together components from various suppliers, fostering a resilient and resourceful team dynamic that continues to drive the project forward.
A fully built reactor, awaiting approval
As of right now, the reactor is fully built, tucked away in the labyrinth of Stevenson Center. Every part has been assembled and precisely set up to meet the lab environment’s specifications. However, Fusion is exploring the possibility of relocating to a larger lab space, which will better accommodate the reactor and provide room for additional testing and research.
Despite the reactor being completed, it has yet to be turned on. The team is currently working with Vanderbilt provosts and the Tennessee Nuclear Energy Board to obtain the necessary approvals to operate the reactor safely.
Safety first: Navigating radiation challenges
One of the most pressing concerns in nuclear projects is radiation. As a result, moving to a new lab space means recalculating all current radiation safety protocols, as particles emitted from the reactor behave differently in different environments. If not vigorously monitored, particles like alpha and beta radiation could interact with different surfaces or barriers in unexpected ways, potentially creating localized risks.
In response, the team has carefully analyzed how radiation interacts with the surroundings, and each member of the team undergoes intense hazardous materials training mandated by Vanderbilt.
“The only real risk to the concept of fusion is radiation emissions,” said sophomore Fusion member Brett Payne. “Dangerous gamma rays and X-rays have not been known to be emitted from this type of small scale-reactor, and based on calculations, a human can be around this reactor safely for extended periods of time.”
The project’s small-scale reactor design guarantees that students can be kept safe while perfecting the technology behind fusion.
Payne says that as a final checkpoint, only authorized safety officers hold the keys that control the reactor’s power supply. This ensures the reactor can be quickly shut down if safety protocols are violated.
Research and future innovations
With the reactor ready to go, Fusion has big plans for its future. They’ve attracted interest from corporations interested in using the reactor to study how radiation affects various technological equipment and achieving positive net energy yield, where more energy is generated by the fusion reaction than the energy required to sustain it. This a feat that has yet to be accomplished in nuclear fusion.
The team is also exploring technological innovations to make the reactor more powerful, such as adding a heavy ion gun to increase kinetic energy inside the reactor. This addition could lead to higher temperatures and more energetic collisions between particles, critical for sustaining fusion reactions. By optimizing energy input and output, new innovations could improve the reactor’s efficiency and bring it a step closer to usable fusion energy.
The future of fusion energy
Nuclear fusion is often misunderstood, but it presents one of the most promising paths toward sustainable, clean energy. Unlike traditional nuclear fission, fusion produces minimal radioactive waste and poses fewer risks because of the harsh reaction environment — reactions can be quickly stopped if conditions become unstable.
The Vanderbilt Fusion Project is pushing the boundaries of student-led innovation by taking on the challenge of building a nuclear fusion reactor, expanding what it means to do university-level research. As the only fully student-driven nuclear reactor project in the United States, the Vanderbilt Fusion Project sets a new standard for what’s possible.
With the reactor built and awaiting approval, the Vanderbilt Fusion Project is on the verge of a major breakthrough. This student-led team is not just building a reactor — they’re building a brighter future for fusion energy.
Photo courtesy of Vanderbilt Fusion Project
References
Office of Nuclear Energy. (2021, April 1). Fission and fusion: What is the difference? Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/fission-and-fusion-what-difference
Government Accountability Office. (2023, March 1). Technology Assessment: Fusion Energy. United States Government Accountability Office. https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-23-105813.pdf
