Fusion Power, A Dream Deferred

To not fund something, and then to point at the research and say "see, there hasn't been any results!, it doesn't deserve funding" is circular logic. If you actually fund Fusion, and by funding I mean 100 billion or more, then you will get results.

100 Billion sounds like a big slice of the pie at first glance, which is probably a main root of the problem. China was willing to put their effort in it, I guess you could also learn Chinese and collaborate (if you don't speak it already). It'll take awhile but you'll get to use their toys and have a safe job position for the rest of your life. More than enough Chinese people were taught English in order to collaborate.

Unfortunately you will see that Chinese research at their current levels are unsustainable. Europe is supplanting us as the worlds scientific power, not china. But I'm an American and as such I can't help but believe that is we would just get our butts into gear, we could do it better than anyone.

I just had a few colleagues back from China. Cirreb217 is right China is quite a bit into fusion now. They have achieved sustained plasma for 1,000 secs which is fantastic because two years ago they were only able to do it for 15 secs. France's joint effort experimental fusion reactor has not even been built yet, nine nations so far have pledged and delivered funds to this project so far. China is very ambitious they want to beat everyone to the punch so do the Indians. The Indians have by far the best scientists in the world I am afraid they may be a tad underfunded, which may hold them back. The way the Chinese are advancing in the field of fusion, in twenty years or less they will have a commerically viable fusion reactor in operation. The big question is at what cost? Thru out the history of China, they had been a country of big egos, they have a chip on their shoulders and want to show the rest of the world that they are better.

I'm afraid your facts may be a little off. Here is a good article for you to read concerning Fusion in China. There has been no achievement of Fusion for 1000 seconds, I assure you. Please provide your own link to support such a claim.

http://www.rsc.org/chemistryworld/News/2008/November/19110801.asp

Indians have the best scientists in the world? Really? Not quite.

Just a snippet I saw today,

I'm sure roger can explain the feasibility, better than I.

http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/21790/page1/

That's a very interesting article, thank you for the post Garthh!

Basically the article talks about using radio waves to help contain the plasma where the fusion is occuring. Right now one of the hurdles of developing sustained fusion reactions is that the hot plasma where the fusion occurs would prefer to spread out than stay compacted. In the sun, gravity forces the plasma to stay fairly condensed, but in a fusion reactor, strong magnetic fields are used. This technique in the article is also using radio waves to contain the plasma. This is useful since it can target specific sections of the plasma and apply momentum (and heating).

Imagine you spilled water on a desk and you want to contain the spill with your hands. You would push the water towards the center continuously with your hands, the water would continuously try to spread out. The radio waves are acting like your hands.

The use of 2 different frequencies & a separate system of feedback, looks like a real innovation to my under educated eyes.

there may be hope yet, we'll get off our collective butts.

Still need more funding!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks to both of you..I've gone to MIT Tech.Review site..Read the news item and am going to Physical reviews as sited i guess it will be in the early Dec/08 section...Seasons greetings to you..Here we will most likely have a very white christmas(cold water lattices interspersed with flotsam and jetsam from the constantly shifting planet locally everywhere/air/ground/wind borne etc...)..Regards,Marty Wolf

Another good one Roger.

I have been doing my own amateurish research on the electrical generating/transmission industry and nuclear power.

My conclusions are:

The American nuclear power-generating industry is an outgrowth of the early weapon building effort, the designs are optimized to produce easily recoverable weapon suitable material.

It seems a lot of effort is expended in re-inventing the wheel every time a design for a new powerplant (nuke), is initiated, none of ,"let's take this proven design and build another one". I'm sure I'm oversimplifying, but that's my impression.

Like any mature industry, entrenched materials, methods, designs and physical infrastructure investment, long since amortized, rule.As in the auto industry, maybe the 100 + year old reciprocating internal combustion engine is not the right answer, but right now it's THE answer, you are not going to see a hydrogen fueled gas turbine Prius' any time soon.

Like you mentioned, it's all about the money, baby. If you throw enough money at a task you can accomplish it. Manhattan project, moon landing stunt program," waste anything but time".

I keep coming across promising concepts, such as thorium fueled reactors, but nothing exists in a vacuum. There is always the political/economic upside-downside to take into consideration.

So it appears to me if anyone were to apply the treasure and effort they might succeed in making a viable , economically feasible , fusion powered electric generator.

Check out Shyam or Rhabe who have both worked for the nuke industry & know some stuff