Fusion
This topic more than any other energy topic will be the basis for every
discussion about the future of energy for use on earth. Perhaps the technology
to make it work for us is 100 years away. But the time to get on it is
yesterday. And today. And tomorrow.
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Sun, Sept. 4, 2005
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THE INTERNET PLASMA PHYSICS EDUCATION
EXPERIENCE
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Welcome to IPPEX! The Interactive
Plasma Physics Education Experience!
Something for everyone:
electricity, magnetism, energy an fusion. Use the menu on the left.
This site contains Interactive Plasma Physics
Topics, ranging from electricity, magnetism, energy, and fusion. Please
visit the "Virtual
Tokamak" and our "Virtual
Magnetic Stability Module" to learn about Plasma and Fusion
Containment.
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all
rights reserved.
 FUSION!
Fusion: The Power of the Universe
Fusion is perhaps the only option for a truly
sustainable or long term energy source, the fuel is virtually inexhaustible and
readily available throughout the world. Power plant operation will be inherently
safe without the risk of long-lived radioactive waste. Fusion will be
environmentally sound without atmospheric pollutants or contribution to global
warming. It will be economically attractive and capable of producing the energy
that future generations will require.
The sun and stars are powered by fusion.
Harnessing these reactions to produce energy on earth presents a grand challenge
to scientists and engineers. Steady progress has been made but several
scientific and technological advances are necessary before the dream of
commercial electricity production will become a reality.
Fusion reactions release
enormous amounts of energy.
How does Fusion work?
In order for fusion reactions to occur, the
particles must be hot enough (temperature), in sufficient number (density) and
well contained (confinement time). These simultaneous conditions are represented
by a fourth state of matter known as plasma. In a plasma, electrons are stripped
from their nuclei. A plasma, therefore, consists of charged particles, ions and
electrons. There are three principle mechanisms for confining these hot plasmas
- magnetic, inertial and gravitational.
Magnetic confinement utilizes strong magnetic
fields, typically 100,000 times the earth's magnetic field, arranged in a
configuration to prevent the charged particles from leaking out (essentially a
"magnetic bottle"). Inertial confinement uses powerful lasers or high
energy particle beams to compress the fusion fuel. The enormous force of gravity
confines the fuel in the sun and stars.
Why develop Fusion?
By
the middle of the next century, the world's population will double and energy
demand will triple. This is due in large part, to the industrialization and
economic growth of developing nations. Continued use of fossil fuels (coal, oil
and natural gas) will rapidly deplete these limited and localized natural
resources.
Burning
of these fossil fuels threatens to irreparably harm our environment. On the
other hand, the deuterium in the earth's oceans is sufficient to fuel advanced
fusion reactors for millions of years. The waste product from a
deuterium-tritium fusion reactor is ordinary helium.
Solar
and renewable energy technologies will play a role in our energy future.
Although they are inherently safe and feature an unlimited fuel supply, they are
geographically limited, climate dependent and unable to meet the energy demands
of a populous and industrialized world.
Another
option, nuclear fission, suffers from a negative public perception. High-level
radioactive waste disposal challenges and the proliferation threat of
weapons-grade nuclear materials are principle concerns. The fuel supply in this
case is large but ultimately limited (100-200 years without breeder reactors).
>> Daily waste production from a 1000 MWe
deuterium-tritium fusion reactor is small.
to
view the inte
What is the Fusion
Challenge?
The
ultimate objective of fusion energy research is the demonstration of a
steady-state, high-gain (or "ignited" * ) fusion plasma producing
reactor-level fusion power. To accomplish this goal, we must improve our
understanding of the underlying physics principles and advance the
state-of-the-art of critical enabling technologies.
Improving
physics understanding:
The transport of energy & particles from the plasma, the contribution of
instabilities and the effects of large populations of energetic alpha particles
are examples of areas that require improved physics understanding so that
techniques can be developed to improve the performance and reduce the size and
cost of future fusion reactors.
Developing
enabling technologies:
High strength materials that do not become excessively activated from fusion
neutrons or weakened due to the nuclear after-heat are needed for the reactor
structure. First-wall materials with adequate thermal conductivity to carry away
the heat flux from the high temperature fusion plasma are required. Large bore,
high field super-conducting magnets are necessary to provide the required
steady-state confinement of fusion plasmas.
*an
ignited plasma is a self-sustained burning plasma in which the plasma heating is
provided entirely by the energetic alpha particles produced by the D-T reaction.
ractive
plasma display research website click here.
Have fun. That is the goal of many of the offerings here at ElectricianEducation.com.
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