Fusion Reactors have long been a mystical potential energy source that have been conceptualized and debated for over fifty years now. But today, the reality of the possibilities within these complex reactors is much closer to becoming a generating truth. The U.S. Department of Energy has commissioned the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory began building a machine called a “compact stellarator.”
This star-studded machine is intended to perfect the magnetic fields needed to control the intense thermonuclear activity involved. The interior of the stellarator machine contains 18 of the most advanced electromagnets ever designed. Princeton Engineers are creating coils that weigh some 6000 pounds and come in a variety of three different shapes. When linked up to the stellarator compactor the coils form a precisely shaped magnetic field. This field can manipulate superheated ionized gas, otherwise known as plasma in this case.
Some Noteworthy Facts:
- In order to get like-charged nuclei to bond, the plasma has to heat up to temperatures hotter than the sun’s core.
- The power that the proposed operating Stellarator reactor could generate is 1000 megawatts.
- The federal monetary supplementation contributed so far tops out at $74 million dollars and climbing.
- By 2012, the first National Compact Stellarator Experiment is scheduled to start production operations.
Regardless of what is to be gained from this experimentation-which is making strong headway recently-fusion power plants still remain perhaps decades away from reality. Aside from the discouraging timeline, billions of dollars will need to be invested throughout the years in order to see this promising energy solution.
This is the future of fusion in America:
By the time the Stellarator gets running the Bussard folks could be delivering power to the grid.
We will know in 60 to 120 days if it is a go.
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at January 15, 2008 8:54 PMThis device in form and scale, resembles the Tokamak test reactor that Princeton was operating some 22 years ago at this same laboratory. What is the difference or advantage of the same approach now after all this time?
Single bubble sonoluminesences.
Up to 9000K to 15000K from an imploding bubble. Definately generates a plasma but is it fussion?
Single bubble sonoluminesences.
Up to 9000K to 15000K from an imploding bubble. Definately generates a plasma but is it fussion?
I was at Princeton in 1985 and toured the Tokamak test reactor. We were told at that time that with the rate of funding and the scientific problems that needed to be solved it would take 50 years to have a reaction that was at break even, where the energy that you were applying was equal to the energy output. Funding for this type of research was cut. What we see now is the UK taking that model and the research and funding it. Was not funding our big mistake?
I would like to publish or have some one exaine my newly discouverd theroey on why charged particles move when traveling in mag. field. AAlso to veiw cold fussion reactor design.
I would like to publish or have some one exaine my newly discouverd theroey on why charged particles move when traveling in mag. field. AAlso to veiw cold fussion reactor design.
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