Then again, in 2013 the first hydrogen fusion test will be made in California. For those who don't know, this is the same thing the sun uses to generate the heat and power it generates. Hydrogen fusion. Unlike a nuclear power plant which relies on nuclear fission (splitting atoms apart), hydrogen fusion works by uniting hydrogen atoms and see the power released by them that way.
Which is why what Rainman is referring to is so exciting. It aims to produce a contained reaction that gives a roughly x10 return on energy expended. Of course even if successful it still represents being decades away from commercial power production but maybe, just maybe in my lifetime a feasibility scale fusion power plant will go into production.The first successful fusion test took place in the 1930s.
Nuclear fusion does indeed, hold out considerable promise, if we can work some problems. It could become a practically limitless source of cheap, abundant energy.
The problem is that so far, in order to maintain a controlled fusion reaction, we've had to put much more energy into containing it and maintaining the conditions required for such a reaction, than we've been able to get back out.
The only way we've been able to get more energy out of a fusion reaction than was put into it is in a rather uncontrolled form, that looks something like this: :skull:
Which is why what Rainman is referring to is so exciting. It aims to produce a contained reaction that gives a roughly x10 return on energy expended. Of course even if successful it still represents being decades away from commercial power production but maybe, just maybe in my lifetime a feasibility scale fusion power plant will go into production.
EDIT: Here's a quick Google I rustled up for it.
The first successful fusion test took place in the 1930s.
Nuclear fusion does indeed, hold out considerable promise, if we can work some problems. It could become a practically limitless source of cheap, abundant energy.
The problem is that so far, in order to maintain a controlled fusion reaction, we've had to put much more energy into containing it and maintaining the conditions required for such a reaction, than we've been able to get back out.
The only way we've been able to get more energy out of a fusion reaction than was put into it is in a rather uncontrolled form, that looks something like this:
View attachment 67135073
I've never seen anyone I'd consider remotely knowledgable describe fusion power generation closer than several decades out? It is an entirely different class power generation solution in that way.When they actually achieve it, then it'll be exciting.
For most of the past half-century, we've been “ten or twenty years away” from being able to produce a controlled, sustained, fusion reaction that can be used to generate energy. I don't see that this article describes anything different.
That's silly; You research to locate them and then and engineer around them. Which is exactly what's being talked about here.The problem with liberals (actually radical leftists) is that they think they can legislate away laws of physics and economics.
Generation isn't the big issue. Storage and delivery are.
Good one.
The problem with liberals (actually radical leftists) is that they think they can legislate away laws of physics and economics. And they usually mock conservatives when the raw facts are pointed out.