Finally something to be optimistic!!!!!!!
Fusion... and I am not talking about deodorant or a new scent for men or a new car---I am talking about the real thing.. where atoms combine and generate energy.
Nuclear Fusion is the process powering the Sun and stars. In the core of the Sun, at temperatures of 10-15 million Kelvin, Hydrogen is converted to Helium by fusion - providing enough energy to keep the Sun burning - and to sustain life on Earth.
A vigorous world-wide research program is underway, aimed at harnessing fusion energy to produce electricity on Earth. If successful, this will offer a viable alternative energy supply within the next 30-40 years - with significant environmental, supply and safety advantages over present energy sources .
To harness fusion on Earth, different, more efficient fusion reactions than those at work in the Sun are chosen - those between the two heavy forms of Hydrogen : Deuterium (D) and Tritium (T). All forms of Hydrogen contain one proton and one electron. Protium, the common form of Hydrogen has no neutrons, Deuterium has one neutron, and Tritium has two. If forced together, the Deuterium and Tritium nuclei fuse and then break apart to form a helium nucleus (two protons and two neutrons) and an uncharged neutron. The excess energy from the fusion reaction (released because the products of the reaction are bound together in a more stable way than the reactants) is mostly contained in the free neutron.
I have been interested in fusion and fusion research since I was a university of Toronto student 25 years ago. I used to tease the anti nuke protesters and drive them crazy. They had no answer for the fact if you didn't continue to develop nuclear energy you would never reach the holy grail of fusion power.
Ok..so why am I optimistic? Because..........
The Globe and Mail reports this week that the ITER nuclear fusion project has been approved for $12.8-billion USD. Although the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) has been in the planning and development stages for more than ten years, it is well supported by most of the world's leading countries that include the U.S., China, India, Russia, Japan, South Korea and the European Union.
We are talking about investing money to better mankind.. .. The target date for a fusion reactor which generates electricity is 2040. In my lifetime. Imagine the power of the sun here on earth.
posted by hockeyman @ 7:05 PM
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