Y Combinator And Mithril Invest In Helion, A Nuclear Fusion Startup

Re:Y Combinator And Mithril Invest In Helion, A Nuclear Fusi... by cpihl on Thursday August 14, 2014 @02:46PM (#8179108)

That's a good question. The short answer is the energy that it takes to extract D2 from water is so small compared to the fusion energy released it isn't a factor. That is reflected in the cost of D2O at about $0.70 per gram. In a fusion reactor, even with inefficiencies, that gram of D2O will create about $1000 worth of electricity.

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Re:Y Combinator And Mithril Invest In Helion, A Nuclear Fusi... by grondilu on Friday August 15, 2014 @04:39AM (#8181400)

Yeah that makes sense. Now that I think about it, I realise the energy needed to extract deuterium is related to the chemical energy binding water molecules together. This chemical energy is orders of magnitude lower than the nuclear energy released by fusion. So the cost of fuel production will likely be irrelevant for fusion power.

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