Case Study: TAE Technologies advances fusion energy control with MathWorks

The Path to Carbon Independence Through Nuclear Fusion

TAE Technologies, a company developing clean fusion energy technology, faced the immense challenge of controlling ultra-high-temperature plasma. To achieve stable nuclear fusion, their reactor required a control system capable of processing data from hundreds of sensors and adjusting magnetic fields in under 10 microseconds to prevent the plasma from diffusing. This task demanded an extremely fast and reliable real-time data acquisition and control solution.

MathWorks provided the solution through its MATLAB and Simulink products, which were used to design and implement a sophisticated control algorithm. This algorithm, deployed on FPGA hardware, successfully processed the complex calculations in just 3 microseconds, far exceeding the required speed. This collaboration with MathWorks enabled TAE to achieve active control of the plasma, a critical milestone that allows for rapid experimentation and brings them closer to their goal of producing commercially viable, clean fusion power.

TAE Technologies

Jesús Romero

Lead Scientist