Fusion energy production

Deuterium is abundant in and easily separated from water. There is enough deuterium on earth to provide power for geological time scales. In contrast, tritium is not available in nature, but can be produced from n+ lithium reactions (see Lithium and lithium compounds). Natural Hthium is exhaustible, but sufficient tritium can be provided from it until fusion energy production is efficient enough to involve only D-D reactions ... 

Deuterium—deuterium reactions are harder to ignite and yield less energy than D—T reactions, but eventually should be the basis of fusion energy production (172). Research into the production of fusion power has been ongoing since the 1950s (173—177) (see Eusion energy). 

Inevitably, the final goal of nuclear fusion research is to create such conditions that Pout > f in> that is, the power necessary to run a fusion-based power station, must be smaller than the power output OUt of the station. From a global perspective, this inequality is the necessary condition for efficient fusion energy production. However, it is clear that in the everyday work, this inequality is too general and so practically meaningless. More practical necessary conditions are needed (see later on), which can serve as reachable targets during the developments. 

To derive the necessary conditions for fusion energy production, one needs to list and calculate all the sinks and sources of power both in the DT reaction and in the power station as a whole. 

Aasen, A. andP. Olsson, eds. 2009. Nuclear Reactors, Nuclear Fusion and Fusion Engineering. New York Nova Science Publishers. Current critical research in both fission and fusion energy production and reactor technology is presented in this publication. 

The second factor relates to environmental issues. Much will depend on how dangerous will actually be global consequences of Earth pollution with mamnade extra heat, chemicals, etc., associated with traditional types of energy production. Note, that nuclear fusion, which sooner or later is anticipated to be developed, also is expected to pollute Earth with extra heat. If such pollution occurs intolerable, the development and corrunercialization of solar power pltints, which produce no extra heating of the Earth and in other respects also seem to be envirorunentally friendly, may obtain high priorities. 

Fusion reactions are accompanied by much greater energy production per unit mass of reacting atoms than fission reactions. 

Energy from nuclear fusion might also be used for propelling jets and rockets. Formidable difficulties would be encountered, however. For reactions occurring at ca 10 °K, such as those between the hydrogen isotopes, chamber pressures of around 100 atm could give rates of energy production comparable to those from the familiar chemical fuels. 

Ordinary hydrogen is sometimes called a perfect fuel, because of its almost unlimited supply on Earth, and when it burns, harmless water is the product of the combustion. So why don t we abandon fission energy and fusion energy, not to mention fossil fuel energy, and just use hydrogen ... 

Cold fusion has been reported to result from electrolyzing heavy water using palladium [7440-05-3], Pd, cathodes (59,60). Experimental verification of the significant excess heat output and various nuclear products are still under active investigation (61,62) (see Fusion energy). 

D) Fusion offers great promise as a clean, renewable energy source. However, for all of its promise, there are tremendous obstacles to be overcome before its use becomes possible. Explain why fusion is so much more difficult to accomplish than fission, a process already in widespread use for energy production. 

---