Regulators halt assembly of fusion reactor (1 Viewer)

[JacksinPA]

Science Magazine - March 4, 2022 - page10

www.sciencemagazinedigital.org

Hoping to contain a fusion reaction which is hotter that our Sun will always be a concern.

 

[HIP56948]

Trying to make-a-Sun, on earth, has monster problems. Of course, fusion reactions in the sun burn ordinary hydrogen at enormous density and temperature, with long confinement times, and the reaction products are benign helium isotopes. Artificial (terrestrial) fusion schemes, on the other hand, are restricted to much lower particle densities and a LOT more fleeting energy confinement, and are therefore compelled to use the heavier neutron-rich isotopes of hydrogen known as deuterium and tritium—which are 24 orders of magnitude more reactive than ordinary hydrogen.
In addition, if fusion reactors are indeed feasible, they would share some of the other serious problems that plague fission reactors, including tritium release, daunting coolant demands, and high operating costs.
Not my field but Damn!, the problems are insane!

 

[PirateMk1]

Science Magazine - March 4, 2022 - page10

www.sciencemagazinedigital.org

Hoping to contain a fusion reaction which is hotter that our Sun will always be a concern.

Stopping a fusion reaction is easy. Drop the magnetic fields and or power. Its the starting part that's a bitch.

 

[PirateMk1]

Trying to make-a-Sun, on earth, has monster problems. Of course, fusion reactions in the sun burn ordinary hydrogen at enormous density and temperature, with long confinement times, and the reaction products are benign helium isotopes. Artificial (terrestrial) fusion schemes, on the other hand, are restricted to much lower particle densities and a LOT more fleeting energy confinement, and are therefore compelled to use the heavier neutron-rich isotopes of hydrogen known as deuterium and tritium—which are 24 orders of magnitude more reactive than ordinary hydrogen.
In addition, if fusion reactors are indeed feasible, they would share some of the other serious problems that plague fission reactors, including tritium release, daunting coolant demands, and high operating costs.
Not my field but Damn!, the problems are insane!

Not true. The sun makes all sorts of nasty radioactive products. The benign reactions are strictly isotope dependent. Hydrogen Hydrogen not being one. The benign reactions are Helium # and and hydrogen which also offers direct conversion and Hydrogen Boron which also offers direct conversion.

 

[HIP56948]

Not true. The sun makes all sorts of nasty radioactive products. The benign reactions are strictly isotope dependent. Hydrogen Hydrogen not being one. The benign reactions are Helium # and and hydrogen which also offers direct conversion and Hydrogen Boron which also offers direct conversion.

Quite true. I was thinking, out in space, it's benign to its surroundings. Edit..I mean, what you say is quite true.

 

[Gordy327]

The problem with fusion power at our current technological level is it takes more energy to start and maintain a fusion reaction than we can take out of it.

 

[Deuce]

Science Magazine - March 4, 2022 - page10

www.sciencemagazinedigital.org

Hoping to contain a fusion reaction which is hotter that our Sun will always be a concern.

No, it wont. Heat is not temperature. Fusion reactors can't explode a city. Hell, we haven't even figured out how to make them energy positive, let alone a threat to anyone.

 

[Peter]

Science Magazine - March 4, 2022 - page10

www.sciencemagazinedigital.org

Hoping to contain a fusion reaction which is hotter that our Sun will always be a concern.

Except for the fact that scientists have been doing just that for decades and recently set a new record for doing so at JET in the UK.

Fusion energy record at JET 'huge step' forward : New Nuclear - World Nuclear News

Researchers at the Joint European Torus in the UK doubled previous records by producing a total of 59 megajoules of heat energy from fusion over a five second period.

www.world-nuclear-news.org