lifterdead
Mecca V.I.P.
VIP
- Joined
- Sep 23, 2006
- Messages
- 1,645
- Points
- 38
Fusion- What is it?
Fusion is the process in which two isotopes of hydrogen are combined to form helium. This process releases enormous amounts of energy. To the best of our knowledge, it is the chief source of energy in the universe, as it powers the reactions in stars.
Why is it important?
As the fuel for this reaction is essentially hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, we have almost a limitless supply of fuel.
Why hasn’t anyone created a fusion reactor before?
Up until recently, no one imagined the need for it. Oil was cheap, abundant, and technology to utilize it was already in place. In other words, there was no energy demand that couldn’t be met by oil.
Where is progress now?
Fusion is essentially an engineering problem, not a scientific one. With a few years and adequate funding, I could build a one. (But not a net power device!) Fusion is not complex; building a net power device is. A multitude of different designs for fusion reactors are being researched right now, both in the private, academic, and government sector. Some designs look promising enough to result in a viable reactor in less than five years.
Four different approaches to achieving the holy grail of energy:
http://www.fusion.org.uk/mast/index.html
http://www.lawrencevilleplasmaphysics.com/index.php?pr=Dense_Plasma_Focus
http://www.emc2fusion.org/
http://www.generalfusion.com/
(my bet is on polywell fusion)
I have always felt fusion represented the future source of energy for civilization. The four different companies I linked to above are all exploring cheaper alternative routes to a net power device. Many of them expect to have a working reactor within 6 years, unlike ITER, which doesn’t expect to until 2050. The high oil prices in 2008 and forecasts for environmental issues associated with a carbon-fuel based alternative have led investors and private companies looking for an alternative. Consequently, some of the brightest minds in physics are now working for these initiatives. It’s great to see it finally getting off the ground. Sadly, much of the money/press has focused on experiments like ITER in the past. (Enter ITER. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is a massive, multi-national, government sponsored attempt to work with fusion. It has been consistently delayed, argued over, plagued with budget issues.) They still do. That is changing, however, with dozen of small innovations taking place in the private sector.
Long live the free market!
I recommend MSimon blog for updates: http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2009/03/keep-eye-on-polywell.html
And, if anyone is really tech/physics savy, www.talk-polywell.org is an open source for fusor technology. Top physicists gather here and debate strange things like bremsstrahlung losses.
Fusion is the process in which two isotopes of hydrogen are combined to form helium. This process releases enormous amounts of energy. To the best of our knowledge, it is the chief source of energy in the universe, as it powers the reactions in stars.
Why is it important?
As the fuel for this reaction is essentially hydrogen, the most abundant element in the universe, we have almost a limitless supply of fuel.
Why hasn’t anyone created a fusion reactor before?
Up until recently, no one imagined the need for it. Oil was cheap, abundant, and technology to utilize it was already in place. In other words, there was no energy demand that couldn’t be met by oil.
Where is progress now?
Fusion is essentially an engineering problem, not a scientific one. With a few years and adequate funding, I could build a one. (But not a net power device!) Fusion is not complex; building a net power device is. A multitude of different designs for fusion reactors are being researched right now, both in the private, academic, and government sector. Some designs look promising enough to result in a viable reactor in less than five years.
Four different approaches to achieving the holy grail of energy:
http://www.fusion.org.uk/mast/index.html
http://www.lawrencevilleplasmaphysics.com/index.php?pr=Dense_Plasma_Focus
http://www.emc2fusion.org/
http://www.generalfusion.com/
(my bet is on polywell fusion)
I have always felt fusion represented the future source of energy for civilization. The four different companies I linked to above are all exploring cheaper alternative routes to a net power device. Many of them expect to have a working reactor within 6 years, unlike ITER, which doesn’t expect to until 2050. The high oil prices in 2008 and forecasts for environmental issues associated with a carbon-fuel based alternative have led investors and private companies looking for an alternative. Consequently, some of the brightest minds in physics are now working for these initiatives. It’s great to see it finally getting off the ground. Sadly, much of the money/press has focused on experiments like ITER in the past. (Enter ITER. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is a massive, multi-national, government sponsored attempt to work with fusion. It has been consistently delayed, argued over, plagued with budget issues.) They still do. That is changing, however, with dozen of small innovations taking place in the private sector.
Long live the free market!
I recommend MSimon blog for updates: http://powerandcontrol.blogspot.com/2009/03/keep-eye-on-polywell.html
And, if anyone is really tech/physics savy, www.talk-polywell.org is an open source for fusor technology. Top physicists gather here and debate strange things like bremsstrahlung losses.