[ RadSafe ] Absurd? Oh, the irony!

[bobcherry at cox.net]

As I recall from many years ago, tokamak-type fusion reactors may be able to convert their energy into electricity using magnetohydrodynamic generators, rather than the usual steam turbine generators.

Bob C
> 
> From: Bernard Cohen <blc+ at pitt.edu>
> Date: 2005/06/29 Wed AM 11:13:06 EDT
> To: John Andrews <andrewsjp at chartertn.net>
> CC: radsafe at radlab.nl
> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Absurd? Oh, the irony!
> 
> I believe the neutrons from fusion reactions are to be used to react 
> with Lithium to produce tritium, which is then used for fuel. The 
> kinetic energy of the neutrons would be the primary source of heat for 
> generating electricity; I assume they would interact with water which 
> thermalizes them and in turn is heated to produce steam. The rest of the 
> energy release would be in kinetic energy of Helium nuclei and protons; 
> at least some of this would be required to maintain the temperature of 
> the plasma
> 
> John Andrews wrote:
> 
> > The problem as I see it with fusion is that all the execss energy is 
> > given to neutrons.  In order to convert this essentially thermal 
> > energy of the neutrons into usable thermal energy we have to use 
> > uranium as a blanket to convert the energy into fission energy using 
> > the vastly greater energy of the fission products to convert to heat.  
> > Lots of it.  With that process we are back to all the problems we have 
> > today of radioactive waste.  The fusion process is pie in the sky 
> > until we talk about the real problem of converting the fusion energy 
> > into heat and then into electricity.
> >
> > John Andrews, Knoxville, Tennesse
> >
> > bobcherry at cox.net wrote:
> >
> >> ``Nuclear fusion poses the exact problems of nuclear fission in the 
> >> production of radioactive waste, the risks of accidents and 
> >> proliferation,'' said Frederic Miller, head of Greenpeace France's 
> >> nuclear campaign, in an e-mailed statement. ``France seems hypnotized 
> >> by this absurd project.'' --------------
> >>
> >> I wrote a high school English paper on controlled nuclear fusion back 
> >> in 1963, at a time when fusion power plants were about "ten years 
> >> away." At one time, I intended to get my PhD in plasma physics, but 
> >> the local draft board altered my plans and diverted my course.
> >>
> >> In my opinion, controlled nuclear fusion to produce electricity is 
> >> the primary long-term solution to humanity's energy needs. Once it is 
> >> online, it can eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels (hydrogen 
> >> produced from water using hydrolysis would replace gasoline and 
> >> natural gas) and nuclear fission for almost all needs.
> >> It is well known that the radioactive wastes are relatively 
> >> short-lived and highly manageable, despite whatever Greenpeace might 
> >> say to further its agenda. The reaction is so difficult to maintain 
> >> that it can't run away; if something goes wrong, the reaction stops 
> >> (some plasma physicists compare controlled nuclear fusion to 
> >> squeezing Jello). And I would like an explanation of how controlled 
> >> fusion leads to nuclear proliferation.
> >>
> >> The physics was done in the 30s. The engineering remains a formidable 
> >> task of scaling and control. We need to get to it.
> >>
> >> Bob C
> >>
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> >>  
> >>
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