Transcript Nuclear Fusion Michael Olson Meteo 3100 Atmospheric Chemistry

Nuclear Fusion
Michael Olson
Meteo 3100
Atmospheric Chemistry
Prof. Kevin Perry
Nuclear Fusion
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What is it?
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How does it work?
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What does it offer?
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What advantages does it have?
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What is the current state of Nuclear Research?
What is Nuclear Fusion?
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"Fusion works on the
principle that energy can be
released by forcing together
atomic nuclei" (BBC news)
H2 + H3 He4 + n
This is one of the primary
reactions of the sun.
What is needed for Fusion?
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H2 – abundant in oceans
H3 – from Li – abundant in
Earth's crust & in the oceans
Temperatures > 100 million
°C (for a Thermonuclear
reaction)
Sustained reaction to
produce substantial energy
to increase efficiency
Inside a plasma chamber
Structure of
2
H
and
http://www.pppl.gov/fusion_basics/pages/fusion_reactions.html
3
H
http://www.pppl.gov/fusion_basics/pages/fusion_reactions.html
http://www.pppl.gov/fusion_basics/pages/fusion_power_plant.html
How much Energy does
Nuclear Fusion offer?
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Estimates say there is enough H2 for 10 trillion
Quads of energy
1 Quad (quadrillion) = 1015 BTU = 1.055
ExaJoules = 293.07 teraWatt hours
10 trillion Quads = 1028 BTU = 1.055*107
yottaJoules = 2930 yottaWatt hours
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Yotta = 1027
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In 1998, the U.S. Consumed 94.27 Quads
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Enough energy for 1*1011 years
Other Advantages to Fusion
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More rapid decay of nuclear waste (50-100 yrs)
Only produces 6,000 tons of waste per year
(only about 10 m3)
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Amount of energy available
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NO2 & SO2, sources of acid rain, not produced
Daily Fuel Consumption
Daily Waste Production
1,000 MegaWatts
Coal Plant
D-T Fusion Plant
F
U 9,000 T. Coal
E
L
W
A 30,000 T. CO2
S 600 T. SO2
T 80 T. NO2
E
1.0 LB D2
3.0 LB Li5
(1.5 LB T2)
4.0 LB He4
ITER
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International Thermonuclear Experimental
Reactor (ITER) Station
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Approved to be built in Cadarache, France
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Expected to be built in about a decade
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Cost: 4.57 billion euros = $5.53 billion
Cold Fusion
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Dr. Martin Fleischmann, Dept. of Chemistry,
University of Utah
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“On the Table” Fusion
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Currently being studied for heating homes
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Reaction with H-attracted elements (like
Palladium and Titanium)