Hangzhou: China has launched the world's largest centrifuge by capacity, capable of generating 300 times Earth's gravity and accommodating loads of up to 20 tonnes. This groundbreaking machine, coded CHIEF1300, is a pivotal part of the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) currently being constructed in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province.
According to Namibia Press Agency, CHIEF1300, developed by Zhejiang University, will advance research across various fields, such as deep-ocean and deep-Earth resource extraction, disaster mitigation, underground waste disposal, and the synthesis of new materials. It features three centrifuges and 18 in-flight devices that support six experimental cabins. Two additional centrifuges with even greater capacity are in development.
Hypergravity, defined as gravitational forces exceeding those at Earth's surface, is a central focus of CHIEF. While roller-coaster riders experience up to 2G and astronauts during launch endure more than 5G, CHIEF is designed to sustain accelerations up to 1,500G. "In a hypergravity field, researchers can simulate real-world hydrogeological catastrophes and geological evolution," said Chen Yunmin, the chief scientist at Zhejiang University.
CHIEF1300's extreme conditions allow for accelerated simulations. At 100G, a 1-meter model can mimic events on a 100-meter scale, condensing a century-long contaminant-plume journey to just 3.65 days in the lab. The centrifuge operates in a 230-square-meter circular basement, where a giant arm with a 6.4-meter radius spins at high speeds to generate massive gravity via centrifugal forces.
The facility incorporates vacuum and wall-cooling setups to counteract air resistance and machine heating. Ling Daosheng, the chief engineer, explained these measures are essential for the centrifuge's underground placement.
Pilot tests have produced significant insights, including simulations of strong earthquakes to assess hydropower dam foundations and analyses of tsunami effects on the seabed, aiding offshore wind farm site selection. The facility has also replicated deep-sea pressures to evaluate methane hydrate extraction and synthesized metal alloys with enhanced strength and ductility.
Chen emphasized the facility's potential as a collaborative hub for frontier science, expressing eagerness to partner with leading global research groups to drive discovery and innovation.