An Alternative Approach to Nuclear Fusion: Think Smaller

[n2doc]

Nuclear fusion is the energy of the Sun and the stars, and there’s a worldwide scientific quest to produce it as a clean, sustainable energy source.

In Europe, the international scientific community has supported large fusion reactors like the Joint European Torus (JET) experiment in the UK and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) currently being built in France.

But one group of UK researchers says that the key is to think smaller, and to mash together spherical reactors (a squashed-up version of regular-shaped reactors) and high temperature superconductors to accelerate the development of fusion energy. Their early prototype devices have a 1.2m diameter, and next up, they’re are aiming to build machines that are 3m high with a 2.5m diameter.

“The mainstream view with these devices is that you have to get bigger and bigger in order to produce fusion energy. But we set about trying to use these high temperature superconductors,” David Kingham, physicist and CEO of Tokamak Energy, told me. “Instead of making bigger reactors, you go to a higher [magnetic] field that enables you to contain the plasma in an effective way.”

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http://motherboard.vice.com/read/an-alternative-approach-to-nuclear-fusion-think-smaller

[drm604]

1. There are lots of people out there working on energy ideas.

It would be great if this group is successful. Practical, commercial scale fusion would be the answer to our energy dilemma.

[Wounded Bear]

2. Bigger is the corporate model...

Easier to control the output.

Smaller distributed generation is the real key to the future. Big power plants are just terrorist magnets. Sooner or later they will succeed in getting one, and the fertilizer will really hit the ventilator then.

[DetlefK]

4. Erm... No...

Big fusions reactors are preferable because the electric grid is already geared towards a top-down-distribution with fission-reactors. You cannot use such an electric grid for decentralized generation of electricity.

[Lionel Mandrake]

3. This is not quite as ridiculous as "cold fusion", but close.

Any type of fusion reactor produces copious neutrons, which render materials radioactive. Hence fusion reactors, just like fission reactors, require shielding. Even if a small fusion reactor was possible (it's not), the need for massive shielding would render it impractical.

Investors beware: you will lose all your money if you buy into this scheme.

[DetlefK]

5. The "high temperature" in "high temperature superconductors" means -200°C as opposed to -269°C.

It all hinges on these superconductors and they are not telling, what material they will use.

[Javaman]

6. ...