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Controlled nuclear fusion with net energy gain is on schedule to occur later this year at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Livermore, California.
That was the message from NIF's director for laser fusion energy, Mike Dunne, who spoke at a Photonics West 2012 plenary talk in January. Optics.org covered the event:
"We are now in a position to say with some confidence that ignition will happen in the next 6-18 months," stated [Dunne], adding that he felt personally that the breakthrough was likely to happen in around nine months.
While fusion ignition is on schedule, the next eight or so months will be crunch time for NIF scientists. There remains a few key hurdles to overcome, chief among them: actually controlling the fusion reaction.
"As the implosion proceeds at about a million miles an hour, can you create that tiny spark of fusion burn at the very center of the system, without the rest of the system mixing together? The next few months of work will be predominately focused on [this obstacle,]" Dunne said.
Already assuming a successful test in the coming months, scientists at NIF are planning for a fusion future. This has been made realistic by recent advancements in optics, which have dramatically lowered the cost and size of laser technology. In addition, scientists have introduced the concept of line replaceable units into the design of LIFE power plants. This will allow future fusion power plants to minimize downtime for equipment repairs.
Already assuming a successful test in the coming months, scientists at NIF are planning for a fusion future. This has been made realistic by recent advancements in optics, which have dramatically lowered the cost and size of laser technology. In addition, scientists have introduced the concept of line replaceable units into the design of LIFE power plants. This will allow future fusion power plants to minimize downtime for equipment repairs.
"When ignition and gain are achieved on NIF, we will have a substantive delivery plan to take us to a commercial plant," Dunne told Science and Technology Review. "We will be ready to go."
There have been many attempts to twist the release of this video into NASA’s support for LENR or as proof that Rossi’s e-cat really works. Many extraordinary claims have been made in 2010. In my scientific opinion, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. I find a distinct absence of the latter. So let me be very clear here. While I personally find sufficient demonstration that LENR effects warrant further investigation, I remain skeptical. Furthermore, I am unaware of any clear and convincing demonstrations of any viable commercial device producing useful amounts of net energy.
Originally posted by Phage
reply to post by LightSpeedDriver
Despite what fans of Rossi would have us believe, I don't think LENR is the same thing as nuclear fusion.
Here is what Zawodny says about it. Note that he never uses the word fusion.
There have been many attempts to twist the release of this video into NASA’s support for LENR or as proof that Rossi’s e-cat really works. Many extraordinary claims have been made in 2010. In my scientific opinion, extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. I find a distinct absence of the latter. So let me be very clear here. While I personally find sufficient demonstration that LENR effects warrant further investigation, I remain skeptical. Furthermore, I am unaware of any clear and convincing demonstrations of any viable commercial device producing useful amounts of net energy.
joe.zawodny.com...
The deuterium-tritium reaction produces (along with a bunch of energy and an alpha particle) an extra neutron. That neutron has to go somewhere.
Safety and Environment
Inherent safety and environmental sustainability are key benefits of fusion. Key characteristics include:
The source term disappears when the system is off or suspends operations.This is in contrast to a fission reactor, where nuclear reactions are sustained for an extended period.
A runaway reaction, or meltdown, is simply not possible.The system contains only tiny amounts (milligrams) of fuel at any point in time, and is only “on” for a billionth of a second per second (equivalent to a small fraction of a second per year).
No cooling, external power, or active intervention is required in the event of system shutdown (deliberate or otherwise).This is because the residual decay heat is low (at the few-MW level), with no need for external cooling. Upon system shutdown, the engine can be simply left standing—with or without the presence of its coolant.
There is no spent fuel, and no requirement for geological storage of radioactive waste.The byproduct of fusion is helium gas.
IFE plants are designed with a low and segregated tritium inventory, and low activation materials—at levels that can have no offsite consequences either during normal operations or during an accident.
The consequence of a "design basis accident" would be suspension of operations and possibly fire. Electricity would cease to be produced, but there would be no offsite impact.
The consequences of accidents significantly beyond the design basis are well within regulatory limits, and represent a paradigm change from the dangers posed by nuclear power or gas transmission pipelines.
The fusion chamber includes a meter-thick region that contains lithium (as a liquid metal, molten salt, or solid compound). This serves two purposes. First, it absorbs the fusion output energy, heating up to about 600 degrees Celsius.