Thermonuclear Power Generation

As opposed to nuclear fission, nuclear fusion is the reaction when two light atomic nuclei fuse together, forming a heavier nucleus. That nucleus releases energy. So far, fusion power generators bum more energy than they create. However, that may change with the construction of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) in Southern France. To be completed in 2016 at a cost of about 11.7 billion, the reactor is a pilot project to show the world the feasibility of full-scale fusion power. 

Such high temperatures have been achieved by using an atomic bomb to initiate fusion. This is the operating principle behind a thermonuclear, or hydrogen, bomb. This approach is obviously unacceptable, however, for a power generation plant. ... 

On the basis of the presented oscillator-wave model it is also possible to create heuristic models of the interaction of electromagnetic waves with plasma particles in the Earth s ionosphere and magnetosphere, heuristic models of the generation of powerful low-frequency waves in the space around the Earth when a cosmic electromagnetic background is present etc. High-efficient sub-millimeter emitter, built on this basis, could be suitable for radio-physical heating of plasma, e.g. in the experiments aimed the achievement of controlable thermonuclear reaction [ ] ... 

The power needed for water electrolysis could come from nuclear energy al though producing Fk this way would not be significantly cheaper than using renewa ble power sources. Nuclear plants can generate Fk in a non electrolytic, thermal mode because of the intense heat generated in a thermonuclear reaction. This ap... 

Nuclear fusion requires high temperatures because nuclei must have large kinetic energies to overcome their mutual repulsions. Fusion reactions are therefore called thermonuclear reactions. It is not yet possible to generate power on Earth through a controlled fusion process. 

Although thermonuclear energy may eventuaUy be very useful for space propulsion, it appears most promising for heating propellant directly rather than for generating power for an electric propulsion system [5]... 

By contrast, atomic weapons rely on generating a uranium chain reaction of an intentionally uncontrolled nature for maximum destructive effect, with the principle of fusion (the compressing of the atom into a smaller particle in order to produce enei ) being exclusively utilized in the production of the more powerful thermonuclear bomhs. 

Tempered martensitic steels have been more recently studied as possible stractural material for nuclear applications, while they are frequently used in thermal power plants as circuit components. Research on these materials is also carried out in the firamework of work done for the design of new-generation nuclear reactors, including fast neutron and sodium-cooled reactors (tertiary loop), Pb and PbBi reactors and the ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) fusion reactor (Table 6.1). These reactors have different characteristics in terms of technological maturity and environment effects on material durability. Tempered martensitic steels with 9—12% Cr have some advantages so that they may be preferred over some of their... 

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