I had read a number of Russian science fiction book, which describes a desperate dependence on oil, Russia's future, after the world will discover the cheapest source of energy - cold fusion. The fusion reactor mankind has known for more than half a century. Unfortunately, researchers have started to develop a keen what almost no one made an unlimited amount of energy, have been forced to lower their hands. Until now. And now those reactors behaved as a long-awaited bus - two came at once.
Who is the synthesis?
First of all - a few words, the fusion is different from a simple nuclear reactions. In fact, it is the reverse process. Current nuclear power plants and bombs of the same name is running, using the energy resulting from the decomposition of heavy radioactive atomic nucleus and nuclear fusion occurs when a merger of two light hydrogen atoms produced by helium. This reaction releases more energy and it does not need rare items.
Popularly speaking, the response time of a glass of water can be extracted as much energy as the 0.5 million. barrels of oil. In addition, the reactors emit no radiation, no risk of disruption of the activities they will make the Earth a radioactive desert.
The only problem is that there is only a successful example of such a reaction is the hydrogen bomb. Because so far, so no one and could not manage such a large-scale response that it does not lead to the devastating explosion.
In 1950. detonation of the first hydrogen bomb, the researchers promised reactors after 25 years. Later dates postponed for another 25 years. The problem is that the reaction takes place only under the following conditions, which exist in the Sun (Sun and giant thermonuclear reactor) and to get it, it takes more energy than is produced then.
Even now under construction in France is extremely complex ITER thermonuclear reactor is doomed to be unprofitable. In addition, it will only be completed in 2020., And fully operational by 2040 unless it starts. Cold fusion - the one that requires the temperature of solar still only works the minds of science fiction. So why speak about a quick victory?
Just cheaper and easier
In early October of Washington (USA), the University announced that the laboratory has finished playing and creating fusion reactor, which is actually able to produce energy.
Conceptual model Dynomak "basically uses similar technology as hot fusion, ITER, but there are ten times easier and potentially produce more and cheaper energy. Simplifying the design of the replacement superconducting magnet wheel the middle of the plasma electric field, and the complex structure - the sphere in the middle of the hot plasma of itself, managed to create the reactor itself, which is supported by its performance.
Temperature plasma created surpluses will be used to heat water, which again will produce steam energy. Washington University researchers say their reactor will produce five times more energy than ITER, and its efficiency was 40 percent.
One gigawatt of power "Dynomak" Plant the final price should reach 2.7 billion. dollars, which is cheaper than 2.8 billion. expensive such as electric power, coal-fired. It is true that the University has made only ten times reduced operational model, but it is much more than we had before.
And some who already have everything!
No sooner has the world to celebrate the achievements of the University of Washington, where the company LOCHEED Martin announced that its revolutionary technology department "Skunk Works", located Palmadale (California, USA), the reactor has to have. With its outline met a few days ago. And after ten years, the company will present on the market.
Fun surprise. Especially since so far the knowledge of fusion reactors T4 was very low. Now about it out loud, saying the coach with the program manager Tom.
According to him, now made equal to the size of the model airliner jet engine and fuel uses of heavy hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium mixture. Appropriate temperature ionized hydrogen binds creating helium and releasing 4 gigantic amount of energy.
T. coach with their purview project also compares ITER and claims that it has developed a lot of times better design. First of all, because not used toroidal structure where the magnet is considered the plasma travels in a circle, and a magnetic bottle with a magnetic "plugs" from the two ends, which are much more closely the plasma than in the ITER design is selected.
According to Lockheed, because the reactor can maintain a much higher plasma pressure for the static magnetic field of the plasma pressure grows, it generates the same pressure, and feedback.
As a result of this reactor to produce, requires less equipment, and testing and production takes months, not years as in the case of old structures. Currently looking for partners in the company believe, that after five years will be prepared by the reactor and ten will start its mass production.
A future without oil and coal
Company officials believe that the reactor will be much more adaptable than the current uranium and plutonium reactors. It is safer, almost does not waste, it is impossible to make a bomb factory, and he himself can even afford to make the necessary hydrogen fuel.
What does it give to the world? First, such a small reactor, and it can now be installed in the existing gas turbine power plants instead of there existing combustion nozzles. 100 MW reactors fit into a standard sea container and filled with 25 kg of fuel, worked for many years. Since reactors safer, it is perfectly suited for vessels or aircraft, never need to pour fuel. And what about the space industry ...
So this is what has been unworkable fiction is fast becoming quite close to the plans for the future. Can only hope that what you wrote about the science fiction world of Russia's oil-free, and the consequences of this state of Russia will not become a reality. This requires a little - that the country is to walk from the oil needle. This requires a lot of - a country that no longer governed by the needle junkies ...
