Posted on Oct 12, 2015
Do you think we will achieve fusion this century? What's your guess as to how long?
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My bet is that we'll have a working reactor within 10 years, and an economically viable one within 20. Why? Well, we already know fusion is possible -- just look up in the sky at noon, there's one of the Galaxy's smallest fusion reactors firing cheerfully away -- and billions upon billions are being poured into it by some of the richest people and corporations on the planet.
The prize? Clean, sustainable, limitless energy with none of the nasty byproducts of the fission reactors currently in use. The implications of terrestrial use alone are staggering...not to mention what possibilities it creates for exploring our solar system, and exploiting the resources.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/06/tech/pioneers-nuclear-fusion/index.html
The prize? Clean, sustainable, limitless energy with none of the nasty byproducts of the fission reactors currently in use. The implications of terrestrial use alone are staggering...not to mention what possibilities it creates for exploring our solar system, and exploiting the resources.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/06/tech/pioneers-nuclear-fusion/index.html
Science
Energy
Nuclear
Edited 9 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 9
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Thank you for posting an interesting question SN Greg Wright. I was interested in the wording of the article in terms of the way they used heating and pressure to get the deuterium and tritium gas to 1,000.000 degrees celsius in a cost efficient manner.
I would expect that a small scale fusion-reactor prototype will be developed by 2035 somewhere in Europe or possibly Japan. I doubt the USA would allow it because of NIMBY [not in my backyard] mentality which seems to be prevalent - after all look at how much trouble the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository has stirred up. :-)
"Experts say science has made a lot of progress recently and for some, confidence is high.
"For $20 billion in cash, I could build you a working reactor," Professor Steven Cowley, CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, told Popular Mechanics. "It would be big, and maybe not very reliable, but 25 years ago we didn't even know if we'd be able to make fusion work. Now, the only question is whether we'll be able to make it affordable."
Nonetheless, it's unlikely the big push for fusion will disappear altogether, as long as it promises to solve the world's energy needs for the next millennium.
"Sure. It would solve that. There's no question," Coblentz said. "We just have to demonstrate it, and then replicate it on a scale that will actually be practical."
I would expect that a small scale fusion-reactor prototype will be developed by 2035 somewhere in Europe or possibly Japan. I doubt the USA would allow it because of NIMBY [not in my backyard] mentality which seems to be prevalent - after all look at how much trouble the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository has stirred up. :-)
"Experts say science has made a lot of progress recently and for some, confidence is high.
"For $20 billion in cash, I could build you a working reactor," Professor Steven Cowley, CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, told Popular Mechanics. "It would be big, and maybe not very reliable, but 25 years ago we didn't even know if we'd be able to make fusion work. Now, the only question is whether we'll be able to make it affordable."
Nonetheless, it's unlikely the big push for fusion will disappear altogether, as long as it promises to solve the world's energy needs for the next millennium.
"Sure. It would solve that. There's no question," Coblentz said. "We just have to demonstrate it, and then replicate it on a scale that will actually be practical."
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SN Greg Wright
LTC Stephen F. I hope you're wrong about that, Colonel. Those who cry NIMBY for fusion are simply knee-jerk reacting to the spectre of past fission problems without taking the time to educate themselves about fusion, regarding it's cleanliness.
Unfortunately, I fear you're right.
Unfortunately, I fear you're right.
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LTC Stephen F.
SN Greg Wright - NIMBY is why I believe fusion will take place outside of the USA in another nation which better appreciates the benefits of fusion.
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I think eventually they will crack that nut, but it won't be easy or cheap
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SN Greg Wright
1stSgt (Join to see) I think you're right, but the economics, once done to scale, can't be argued with, and so every energy corporation on the planet will want in on it.
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