Maybe this has already been discussed. I am curious about the findings at the University of Wisconsin in which they claim that instead of using fission fuels, deuterium and tritium, that a combination of 3He with 3He in the fusion process would lead to a reactor that would not produce any waste or radioactivity. I am a great space enthusiast and see the opportunity to return to the moon for 3He as a challenge to meet, not to be thwarted. What are the thoughts on this?
Jonathan G Prevo
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Astios Research Community
http://www.astios.com
Helium-3?
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Carl Willis
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Re: Helium-3?
Hi Jonathan,
I thought they were doing the 3He(d,p)4He reaction, which produces a very energetic proton (~17 MeV or so.) It is another fusion reaction with high cross-section at low incident energies. It does not make any radioactive byproducts, but it should be noted that it will occur in combination with 2H(d,n)3He since deuterium must be present; the neutrons are capable of activating the surrounding material.
-Carl
I thought they were doing the 3He(d,p)4He reaction, which produces a very energetic proton (~17 MeV or so.) It is another fusion reaction with high cross-section at low incident energies. It does not make any radioactive byproducts, but it should be noted that it will occur in combination with 2H(d,n)3He since deuterium must be present; the neutrons are capable of activating the surrounding material.
-Carl
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Richard Hull
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Re: Helium-3?
Helium 3 is incredibly expensive ~$300,000/lb and has yet to produce 1 watt of energy in any fusion system.
Of course, in an ideal fusion system, (still a very distant dream), one pound would produce a lot of energy. How this fusion energy would provide thrust to go on so short a trip to the moon is another issue completely. Most likely, the fusion would make electricity which would drive some form of powerful ion engine. Of course, this is from earth orbit to lunar orbit. Such a fusion system could not take off from earth.
Also, as Carl points out, there is NO totally clean fusion system. Gotta' have that rad waste in some form or other. Whenever nuclear violence is done, be it fission or fusion, there is always rad by-products in some form. These need not take the form of leaky, yucky, rad ooze, but might just be radioactive,neutron activation of the reactor vessel and system components. Even the cleanest system (p + B11) has some parts of the chain with activated components or radioactive gases based on the flying alpha reactions at real fusion energy power levels. It is hard to imagine a few megawatts of alpha particles. While the alphas are just harmless, non-radioactive helium 4 nuclei, their quantity at power and energy WILL activate and alter stuff in a kick butt power system to become rad waste.
Plus, I still advance that we won't be doing power ready fusion in plasmas. (the arena where everyone is in a gladitorial struggle with the sacred demon)
Yes, although the plasma in a fusor may not be a thermal or maxwellian one, it is a plasma nonetheless. The density just ain't there. The big free energy fusion machine in this universe is gravitational.
Richard Hull
Of course, in an ideal fusion system, (still a very distant dream), one pound would produce a lot of energy. How this fusion energy would provide thrust to go on so short a trip to the moon is another issue completely. Most likely, the fusion would make electricity which would drive some form of powerful ion engine. Of course, this is from earth orbit to lunar orbit. Such a fusion system could not take off from earth.
Also, as Carl points out, there is NO totally clean fusion system. Gotta' have that rad waste in some form or other. Whenever nuclear violence is done, be it fission or fusion, there is always rad by-products in some form. These need not take the form of leaky, yucky, rad ooze, but might just be radioactive,neutron activation of the reactor vessel and system components. Even the cleanest system (p + B11) has some parts of the chain with activated components or radioactive gases based on the flying alpha reactions at real fusion energy power levels. It is hard to imagine a few megawatts of alpha particles. While the alphas are just harmless, non-radioactive helium 4 nuclei, their quantity at power and energy WILL activate and alter stuff in a kick butt power system to become rad waste.
Plus, I still advance that we won't be doing power ready fusion in plasmas. (the arena where everyone is in a gladitorial struggle with the sacred demon)
Yes, although the plasma in a fusor may not be a thermal or maxwellian one, it is a plasma nonetheless. The density just ain't there. The big free energy fusion machine in this universe is gravitational.
Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment