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Fusion is Coming
NoMoreKickingCans
Posted: 13 March 2024 12:56:32(UTC)
#1

Joined: 26/02/2012(UTC)
Posts: 4,470

Fusion within a decade(?), the UK playing a leading role (which as ever will mean other nations taking all the commercial spoils no doubt)...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/busi...d-sooner-than-you-think/

The dawning of a new age when it comes. A star in a jar.
OmegaMale
Posted: 13 March 2024 16:34:56(UTC)
#2

Joined: 02/07/2020(UTC)
Posts: 535

That's what they said about JET (Joint European Torus/Tokamak) in the mid-70s. That went well.

It is extremely difficult to achieve (which is probably why Woodford invested in cold fusion).

Hope I'm wrong but I won't be investing. "I'm oot"

OM
Tug Boat
Posted: 13 March 2024 17:54:51(UTC)
#4

Joined: 16/12/2014(UTC)
Posts: 2,018

Lived near Culham and talked to a few there. Thought it was a long shot.

This new laser stuff looks a lot more promising.

Beyond my ken, but in my area of interest and will continue to be optimistic.
Tyrion Lannister
Posted: 13 March 2024 18:38:21(UTC)
#3

Joined: 03/03/2017(UTC)
Posts: 2,029

OmegaMale;299412 wrote:
That's what they said about JET (Joint European Torus/Tokamak) in the mid-70s. That went well.

It is extremely difficult to achieve (which is probably why Woodford invested in cold fusion).

Hope I'm wrong but I won't be investing. "I'm oot"

OM


Cold fusion is scientifically impossible, all Woodford had to do was ask a half decent scientist but he chose to listen to the hype and bull instead.

I think fusion is achievable, the key challenge is containing the reaction and the beauty of it is it would be safe, failing to to contain the reaction simply results in it ceasing instantaneously. However, like you I won't be investing, the timescale needed to solve the engineering challenges is an unknown, it would be a punt.
bearcub
Posted: 18 March 2024 20:08:06(UTC)
#5

Joined: 07/05/2023(UTC)
Posts: 190

I know firsthand, from a visit to West Burton power station for a different reason, that there are already people on site there working on the STEP fusion programme. So although it's a long term project, things are starting to happen on the ground.

Who knows when or if fusion power will become profitable, but I'd guess that the likes of Scottish Mortgage will be keeping an eye on it to see whether the firms behind it become investible at some stage.
Dentmaster
Posted: 18 March 2024 21:30:23(UTC)
#6

Joined: 23/01/2021(UTC)
Posts: 440

Beam me up Scotty
ANDREW FOSTER
Posted: 18 March 2024 21:42:07(UTC)
#7

Joined: 23/07/2019(UTC)
Posts: 8,124

Thanks: 11364 times
Was thanked: 18232 time(s) in 5980 post(s)

No, fusion is not coming. Not even close.

The fundamental problems are not only totally unresolved but no one has any idea of how to solve them.

It's a giant vanity science money pit.

They recently ammounced some great 'breakthrough' of passing the 'unity point' of getting more energy out that they put in. For all of five seconds.

They put in 2 MegaJules and got 3 MegaJoules out.

Except they didn't. Because they ommitted to mention that to creat that 2 MJ of laser energy consumed a whopping 300 MJ of electrical energy.

So really, they put in 302 MJ and got out 3MJ.

But that doesn't make for headlines and getting more funding. So they excluded it...

Quote:

The efficiency of a potential fusion energy power plant remains to be seen. The reported fusion net gain actually required about 300 megajoules of energy input, which was not included in the energy gain calculation. This energy input, needed to power 192 lasers, came from the electric power grid.


Source:-

https://theconversation....lectric%20power%20grid.

It's called lying by ommisio and is the same basis as many climate claims.

But lets all say it together 'trust the science'.....

But thats not even the main issue, which is that a plasma at a million degrees melts anything nearby really very quickly. Even half a metre away, the thermal radiation just evaporates all earthly materials. You cannot sustain a plasma, You can't get new fuel in and you can't extract the energy out. Because anything you put in place to do that evaporated within a minute of firing the system up.

It's a big fat investment trap.




1 user thanked ANDREW FOSTER for this post.
Guest on 19/03/2024(UTC)
Dentmaster
Posted: 18 March 2024 21:52:20(UTC)
#8

Joined: 23/01/2021(UTC)
Posts: 440

The engines canny handle it captain
NoMoreKickingCans
Posted: 18 March 2024 23:14:13(UTC)
#9

Joined: 26/02/2012(UTC)
Posts: 4,470

Quote:
It's a big fat investment trap.

I believe a man once said that about rubbing two sticks together ;o)

Kinda paid off though.
1 user thanked NoMoreKickingCans for this post.
foolish_mortal on 19/03/2024(UTC)
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