largest operational nuclear fusion reactor

[JonC]

The largest operational nuclear fusion reactor on Earth just produced its first plasma when it came online over the weekend in Japan.

Japan Powers Up World's Largest Experimental Nuclear Reactor and Generates First Plasma

 

[Roy Kling]

I don't know, things like this are way above my pay-grade. About all I can do is sit back and ask, ''Are you sure you should be doing that?''

 

[JonC]

Well, it would be cleaner than fission. But who knows the downside. We never seem to get that later.

 

[Van]

When I was a young man, nuclear controlled fusion was right around the corner. Now I am an old man and it is right around the corner. What we need to see is a report not about making plasma or reaching a milestone, but of producing say a Megawatt of power over what was used to create the fusion reaction. Until then, these stories should be consigned to the vaporware storehouse.

 

[canadyjd]

Did they build it near the coast?

peace to you

 

[JonC]

Did they build it near the coast?

peace to you

I'd think so (deuterium). We are dealing with hydrogen isotopes. The only byproduct should be small amounts of helium. Don't have to worry about long lasting radioactive waste like we do with fission reactors. And nuclear meltdown is impossible.

 

[canadyjd]

I'd think so (deuterium). We are dealing with hydrogen isotopes. The only byproduct should be small amounts of helium. Don't have to worry about long lasting radioactive waste like we do with fission reactors. And nuclear meltdown is impossible.

So, the next tidal wave that hits it won’t be a major problem?

peace to you

 

[JonC]

So, the next tidal wave that hits it won’t be a major problem?

peace to you

I'm sure it could be a problem....but not like fission reactors, oil refineries, or chemical plants.

 

[JonC]

When I was a young man, nuclear controlled fusion was right around the corner. Now I am an old man and it is right around the corner. What we need to see is a report not about making plasma or reaching a milestone, but of producing say a Megawatt of power over what was used to create the fusion reaction. Until then, these stories should be consigned to the vaporware storehouse.

The neat part is that fusion has moved from theory to having been accomplished (in 2022). But there is a long way to go.

 

[Van]

Other milestones have been reached over the decades, but the concept has remained vaporware my entire adult life, starting circa 1958.

 

[777]

Uhhh, no - a nuclear fusion plant would produce a plasma cloud, made up mostly of lithium. You're going to need this blanket in order to absorb all the emitted neutrons.

What is a lithium blanket and how does it work? - EUROfusion

this alone would be very expensive to make and would degrade and become radioactive if it wasn't regularly dismantled and replaced.

There certainly is a long way to go here, but I don't see why it isn't feasible in the not-so-distant future. "Environmentalists", of course, are standing in the way yet again, remember the Pacer Project?:

Project PACER - Wikipedia

they had a big hand in shutting that down, they are so sold on wind and solar, both far less reliable than nuclear fission or fusion would be. At least the "scientific community" is not chasing cold fusion any more, that is a fool's errand. Nuclear fusion and hydrogen are the future, IMO.