Received an Order from MiRESSO, a QST-Certified Venture, for the Design and Manufacturing of a Microwave Heating Reactor for Beryllium Production Demonstration for Fusion Reactors

Microwave Chemical Co., Ltd.

Microwave Chemical Co.,Ltd. (“MWCC”) has received an order from MiRESSO Co.Ltd. (“MiRESSO”) for the design and manufacturing of a pilot microwave heating reactor for beryllium production demonstration. MiRESSO will proceed with the demonstration using this equipment, and MWCC will collaborate the scale-up demonstration toward the implementation of the actual equipment.

■Background
Beryllium is a neutron multiplier necessary for the self-production of tritium, the fuel for fusion reactors, in the blanket, making it an essential metal for the realization of fusion reactors.
Traditionally, the refining process of beryllium ore requires multiple high-temperature treatments, including vitrification at 2000°C and subsequent heating at 900°C and 250°C. This process consumes a significant amount of energy and emits CO2.

■History
To address these issues, we signed a joint research agreement with the Rokkasho Fusion Energy Research Institute of the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (hereinafter “QST”) on December 22, 2021, to develop rare metal refining technology using microwave heating※1. This newly developed low-temperature refining technology, which enables energy savings and CO2 reduction, has successfully dissolved beryl, the actual ore of beryllium, which is difficult to melt※2. MiRESSO, a certified venture company established by QST in 2023, is advancing the demonstration of low-temperature refining technology and its social implementation to overcome the traditional challenges. The project has been selected under the FY 2022 Supplementary Budget “the Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Innovation Promotion Program (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)” (SBIR) in the fusion field with the project name “Demonstration of Low-Temperature Refining Technology for Stably Securing of Beryllium for Fusion Reactors.”

■Future Developments
MWCC has received an order from MiRESSO for the design and manufacturing of a pilot microwave heating reactor to demonstrate beryllium production on an even larger scale. We will deliver and install the designed and manufactured equipment at MiRESSO.

We will continue to contribute to the scale-up of low-temperature refining technology for beryllium and the early realization of fusion reactors.

*1 Announced on January 20, 2022 “Accelerating Social Implementation of Energy-Saving Refining Technology for Rare Metals Using Microwave Heating – QST and MWCC Conclude Joint Research Agreement for Demonstration Tests
https://mwcc.jp/news/944/（Japanese only）

*2 Announced on March 30, 2023 “Successful dissolution of beryllium ore by energy-saving and CO2 reducing refining technology with microwave heating – Accelerating the realization of fusion power generation through social implementation as a versatile refining technology
https://mwcc.jp/post_en/press_release/258

Reference: Diagram of microwave heating reactor pilot equipment