China, on September 29, launched the world’s largest centrifuge in terms of capacity. The machine, called CHIEF1300, can reportedly generate up to 300 times Earth’s gravity (300G) for a load weighing as much as 22 tons.
The centrifuge is part of the Centrifugal Hypergravity and Interdisciplinary Experiment Facility (CHIEF) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province. Once complete, this facility will become one of the world’s most advanced hypergravity research hubs.
Developed by Zhejiang University, CHIEF will support studies across many fields. These include deep-ocean and deep-Earth resource extraction, earthquake and tsunami research, underground waste storage, and advanced material design.
The project includes three centrifuges, 18 in-flight devices, and six experimental cabins, with two more centrifuges currently under construction. The new machines are expected to handle even greater capacities.
What hypergravity means
Hypergravity refers to forces stronger than the gravity we experience on Earth. For comparison, a roller coaster briefly pushes riders to about 2G, and astronauts during launch experience up to 5G. CHIEF, however, is designed to sustain accelerations as high as 1,500G, far beyond what the human body can tolerate.
“In a hypergravity field, researchers can simulate real-world hydrogeological catastrophes, geological evolution and extreme environments in bench-top scale models within reasonable timeframe,” said Chen Yunmin, the chief scientist of the facility at Zhejiang University.
At such extreme conditions, the centrifuge acts like a time and scale compressor. For example, at 100G, a 3-foot model represents a 328-foot structure in real life. A contaminant plume that would normally spread over 100 years can be simulated in only 3.65 days.
This ability allows scientists to study geological and engineering processes that are otherwise impossible to observe within human timescales.
Inside the CHIEF1300 machine hall
The CHIEF1300 is housed in a 2,476-square-foot underground chamber. At its core is a 21-foot rotating arm that spins at high speed to generate the enormous forces. The faster the arm rotates, the stronger the centrifugal acceleration becomes.
“CHIEF1300 was placed below ground level, and was equipped with vacuum and wall-cooling setups to mitigate the adverse influences of air resistance and machine heating,” explained Ling Daosheng, chief engineer of the facility.
These design features help the centrifuge run safely and stably while handling extreme conditions. The underground setting also reduces noise and vibration that could affect experiments.
Early achievements and global collaboration
Pilot tests at CHIEF have already delivered valuable findings. In one experiment, scientists simulated a strong earthquake to test the seismic safety of a hydropower dam foundation.
In another, they studied how a 13-foot-high wave and a 66-foot tsunami would impact the seabed, helping guide the placement of offshore wind farms.
Researchers also recreated the pressure of water at a depth of 6,561 feet (2,000 meters) to examine methane hydrate extraction. This work is important for evaluating safety and stability in deep-sea energy exploration.
In addition, they used hypergravity conditions to create metal alloys with fewer defects and higher strength, opening the door for advanced materials in aerospace and engineering.
Chen emphasized that CHIEF will not only serve China but also the global research community.
“The facility will operate as an open, shared hub for frontier science, and I look forward to teaming up with the world’s top research groups to accelerate discovery and spark innovation,” he said.