an official announcement is due tomorrow...the attached NYT article puts the 'FUSION' project in context from both a Physics and Engineering perspective....good stuff.
btw, my FIL worked at the Lawrence Livermore Lab on that project way back when...got my wife and I a tour of the early 'machinery'...very impressive then, but clearly things have gotten a lot bigger now.
I'm aware that some folks are 'paywalled'...I'll look for 'open' source info after the announcement....in spite of the huge challenges still to be overcome, this is real progress for the benefit of future generations.
Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/12/12/science/nuclear-fusion-energy-breakthrough.html
fusion ignition, which is the jewel in the crown of science and technology today.
it was in the linked article and the beginning of my message section...sorry you missed it.
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Link: https://newatlas.com/energy/quaise-deep-geothermal-drilling-questions/
I can still remember someone saying that lasers were a solution in search of a problem...my, how things have changed.
The only reason we have energy issues is because the problem hasn't risen to crisis level yet, and/or we (some) are making too much money to change. There are plenty of solutions available.
effective and simplified overview can be found in my frequently posted link to David J.C. MacKay's free on-line book "Sustainable Energy - Without the Hot Air" (linked again)...
btw, as part of that program, I did all the design calculations, etc. for a solar powered home...
Solar Power needs to be used...appropriately...i.e. with consideration for its 'Intermittency'...Land Use...and Storage Requirements.
Link: https://withouthotair.com
...built a solar home on campus. They had state of the art storage systems, but there was a problem. After 10 years they tore it down. There is no sun in Rochester during the winter months. We only get 61 days of full sun per year. Hell, Albany, NY gets 182 and they're disappointed.
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Actually, nuclear waste is better than other waste. It isn't vented into the atmosphere. It is quite concentrated, so it harms no one.
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from that article...
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Does Fusion produce radioactive nuclear waste the same way fission does?
Nuclear fission power plants have the disadvantage of generating unstable nuclei; some of these are radioactive for millions of years. Fusion on the other hand does not create any long-lived radioactive nuclear waste. A fusion reactor produces helium, which is an inert gas. It also produces and consumes tritium within the plant in a closed circuit. Tritium is radioactive (a beta emitter) but its half life is short. It is only used in low amounts so, unlike long-lived radioactive nuclei, it cannot produce any serious danger. THE ACTIVATION OF THE REACTOR'S STRUCTURAL MATERIAL BY INTENSE NEUTRON FLUXES IS ANOTHER ISSUE. This strongly depends on what solution for blanket and other structures has been adopted, and its reduction is an important challenge for future fusion experiments. (emphasis mine)
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As an engineer, I'm concerned about the effect of 14 Mev Neutrons bombarding today's containment materials (Note: today's reactors experience neutron energies on the order of 0.025 ev...fast reactors...1Mev)...that's a huge concern for keeping a Fusion Reactor Plant operational for extended periods of time...but who knows what the future holds...would love to worry about that once a sustainable and sizable net positive reaction is achieved...probably not in most board members' lifetimes...here's hoping our progeny will thank us for today's work.
Link: https://www.iaea.org/topics/energy/fusion/faqs
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As you know, I am a software developer.
Now if I had made the same statement to the "person of color", he would accuse me of engaging in culture wars.
Cheers, and good to have you around again.
the 5th Fact involves what I first worked on back in the 70's...i.e. Advanced Nuclear Reactor designs ("Fast Breeders")...and the ancillary 'ReProcessing', or 'ReCycling' of Used Fuel. Employing a "Closed Cycle" process (already demonstrated...Google "IFR") not only dramatically reduces the amount of radioactive waste products, but also increases the amount of usable fuel by a factor approaching 100X!...not bad.
I'll be happy to go deeper if you'd like.
Link: https://www.energy.gov/ne/articles/5-fast-facts-about-spent-nuclear-fuel
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Link: Oops!
Nuclear Fuel Cycle...(see link)
Note that the U.S. is looking into 'Non-Aqueous' "Pyro-Processing" for our closed cycle approach and that is currently being funded...also based on previous work that was done on 'EBR-II' as part of the IFR program (you can Google it if you're interested).
Link: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/frances-efficiency-in-the-nuclear-fuel-cycle-what-can-oui-learn
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plus, that problem is being dealt with.
You are right to be in favor of more Nuclear Power Plants.
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...about the issue of Spent Nuclear Fuel Processing, just let me know."
Author: TyroneIrish (7743 Posts - Joined: Oct 8, 2020)
Posted at 3:07 pm on Dec 12, 2022
being funded right now...lower volume...less costly...and less risky, from a 'leakage' or 'proliferation' perspective...let me know if you want to delve deeper on it.
All other viewers are welcome, btw.
Link: https://www.ne.anl.gov/pdfs/12_Pyroprocessing_bro_5_12_v14[6].pdf
information on that subject already...especially when it comes to today's treatment options and plans for the future...you're issue seems to be focused on past methods...which I already addressed with the Seattle Times article...time for you to do a little work on that issue if what I provided isn't enough.
If you'd like to discuss the future, which is infinitely more relevant, then I'll join you...assuming you want to do more than just "Bust Orbs" ;-).
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but if you'd prefer to focus on "Culture Wars" instead, I'll understand.
...political or cultural.
I used to mock Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Obama's choice in shemales, etc.
It had to do with a perfect set up for mocking/ball busting in addition to behavior that was unseemly, that too many accepted as normalcy.
You've been conditioned by social manipulators. The only war is in your mind.
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