[ad_1]
There is only five years left to exploit the almost unlimited power of "miniature suns" through nuclear fusion reactors that could provide abundant, cheap and clean energy, according to some technology companies.
Due to global warming caused by our dependence on fossil fuels, it is urgent to find alternative and sustainable sources of energy
. If we do not, the future looks bleak for millions of people, with shortages of water and food. leading to famine and war.
Nuclear fusion has been announced as a possible answer to our prayers. But it has always been something that would be viable "in 30 years", according to a current joke in this sector.
Now, many start-ups as they are called tech start-ups, say they can save time. Nuclear fusion: a commercial reality long before that
What is nuclear fusion?
This method involves the fusion of atomic nuclei to release large amounts of energy, which is likely to solve our crisis. It's the same source of energy from the Sun and it's a clean process – that is, it does not emit pollutants – and relatively harmless.
But to force the fusion of these nuclei – deuterium and tritium, two isotopes of hydrogen – requires a tremendous amount of energy, more than we managed to generate up to present.
"The maturing of the underlying science, combined with the emergence of 21st century technologies, such as l & # 39; 3D printing and high temperature superconductors, prevents nuclear fusion "in the coming years."
"We can not be certain of the time frame, but the basic science is solved and the problems are technical, material-related," says Allison.
A big challenge is to build a structure strong enough to hold the plasma – the very high temperature nuclear soup in which fusion reactions occur – under the enormous pressures needed.
"Exhaust systems will have to withstand heat levels similar to those of a spaceship returning into the atmosphere," said Ian Chapman, executive director of the UK Atomic Energy Authority. (UKAEA).
Robot maintenance systems will also be needed, as well as fuel generation, recovery and storage.
"The UKAEA is investigating these problems and building new research facilities at the Culham Science Center, near Oxford, to develop solutions with the industry," says Chapman.
So, what's up?
Some private companies claim to overcome these practical challenges using new materials and technologies
Tokamak Energy, based in England, is working on spherical versions of nuclear fusion reactors experimental (called tokamaks ) using high temperature superconductors) to contain plasma in a very strong magnetic field
In the context of this branch of physics , a very intense cold of -70 ° C or less. "A tokamak tokamak spherical has a much more efficient format, and we can significantly improve their compactness. "
" They have been the most successful to date, "says Jonathan Carling,
The company has built three tokamaks to date, with the third, the ST40, 30 mm stainless steel and with HTS magnets. In June, the temperature in the plasma reached more than 15 million degrees Celsius, a temperature higher than that of the heart of the Sun.
The company plans to reach 100 million degrees Celsius, a feat that Chinese scientists claim to have accomplished this month. 19659002] "We hope to reach the point of" energetic gain "by 2022 and start supplying energy for commercial purposes by 2030," Carling said.
Meanwhile, in the United States, the Mbadachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is collaborating with the American company Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) to develop Sparc, a ring-shaped magnetic field tokamak able to keep in place a hot plasma.
Funded in part by the Breakthrough Energy Ventures investment fund, led by Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Michael Bloomberg and other billionaires, is expected to develop small-scale nuclear fusion reactors built in factories and sent
Project with 35 countries
These private companies are competing with the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), the world's leading nuclear fusion project, involving ” clbad=”img img-responsive image-large”/>
Iter, which means "the way" in Latin , is the largest experimental nuclear fusion facility in the world, but should not work before 2025, and any commercial application
"Different ITER members have different levels of urgency to use the merger in the framework for a clean energy future, "said a spokesman for the initiative at BBC News.
"Some expect the fusion to provide electricity by 2050. For others, it will only be something for the second half of this century. "
The beginners of this market believe that they can do better. "With the new HTS magnetic technology, a fusion apparatus offering" energy gain "can be much, much less," says Martin Greenwald, deputy director of the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center.
One Size "Fewer means mean lower costs, opening the field of nuclear fusion to" smaller, more agile organizations, "Greenwald says.
But everyone seems to agree that the work of ITER, Culham and the private sector is complementary.
"In the end, we all share the same dream, that fusion-generated electricity is an essential element of a clean energy future," the spokesman said. ; Iter.
Already viewed our new videos. no YouTube ? Subscribe to our channel!
https: //www.youtube. com / watch? v = BO9Tjsgb24M
[ad_2]
Source link
