Re:Nuclear physicist explains why fusion ignition is hailed ...
by hinkley on Monday December 19, 2022 @02:08PM
(#34056214)
Too late to edit, but my source on the 2 months comment comes from an interview with Helion, who I think made the front page a couple of weeks ago, but in summary they are trying to smash two plasma balls together and then directly capture the magnetic flux created by the resulting fusion, rather than using a heat engine:
They talk about why ITER has no viable fuel source, and about how they (Helion) are going to have to run two configurations of fusion plants in order to source their own fuel. One that produces a 10% power surplus, undesirable neutrons and the fuel for their power plants. They didn’t say anything but I suspect they’ll end up coming up with a use for the neutrons, perhaps making fuels for other processes. Someone will likely eyeball that waste heat as well.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=_bDXXWQxK38&t=1081s
They talk about why ITER has no viable fuel source, and about how they (Helion) are going to have to run two configurations of fusion plants in order to source their own fuel. One that produces a 10% power surplus, undesirable neutrons and the fuel for their power plants. They didn’t say anything but I suspect they’ll end up coming up with a use for the neutrons, perhaps making fuels for other processes. Someone will likely eyeball that waste heat as well.