General Atomics Engineer Honored for Contributions to Fusion Energy
Nikolai Norausky receives Fusion Power Associates Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award
SAN DIEGO – 7 November 2022 – Fusion Power Associates (FPA) has awarded one of its 2022 Excellence in Fusion Engineering Awards to General Atomics’ (GA) Nikolai Norausky for his contributions to GA’s ITER Central Solenoid (CS) program.
The FPA Excellence in Fusion Engineering Awards are given annually to early-career scientists, engineers, and other professionals who have shown both technical accomplishment and the potential to become exceptionally influential leaders in the fusion field.
Norausky serves as the Deputy Program Manager and Technical Lead for the CS program, leading the technical team in creating innovative solutions to maintain technical progress on the production of the magnet modules. Norausky is also developing technology solutions for future fusion devices that will leverage the capabilities of high-temperature superconductors.
Norausky, who has been with GA since 2005, was recognized for “leadership and technical contributions to the fabrication of the ITER Central Solenoid magnet, for the application and significance of his work to future fusion devices, specifically in the areas of Cable in Conduit Conductor and Demountable Joints using High Temperature Superconductors.”
“The key to widespread adoption of fusion power is bringing the technology out of the lab and finding the most effective ways of industrializing the manufacture and operation of fusion power plants,” Norausky said. “I am humbled and honored by this recognition of my work in advancing that goal.”
The CS modules are being manufactured by GA at its facility in Poway, CA, under the direction of the US ITER project, managed by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The CS is one of 12 hardware systems that US ITER is providing.
The CS is a critical component of the ITER experiment, an international collaboration of 35 nations that will demonstrate the feasibility of fusion energy. Fully assembled, this massive magnet will be 59 feet tall, 14 feet in diameter, and weigh a thousand tons. Often referred to as the “heart of the ITER facility,” it will drive 15 million amperes of electrical current that will be used to shape and control the fusion reaction.
The award will be presented at the FPA 43rd annual meeting in Washington, DC December 7-8.
About General Atomics:
Since the dawn of the atomic age, General Atomics innovations have advanced the state of the art across the full spectrum of science and technology – from nuclear energy and defense to medicine and high-performance computing. Behind a talented global team of scientists, engineers, and professionals, GA’s unique experience and capabilities continue to deliver safe, sustainable, economical, and innovative solutions to meet growing global demands.
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Evan Polisar
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Evan.Polisar@ga.com