Nuclear Fusion Michael Olson Meteo 3100 Atmospheric Chemistry

Nuclear Fusion Michael Olson Meteo 3100 Atmospheric Chemistry Prof. Kevin Perry

Nuclear Fusion ● What is it? ● How does it work? ● What does it offer? ● What advantages does it have? ● What is the current state of Nuclear Research?

What is Nuclear Fusion? ● ● ● "Fusion works on the principle that energy can be released by forcing together atomic nuclei" (BBC news) H 2 + H 3 →He 4 + n This is one of the primary reactions of the sun.

What is needed for Fusion? ● ● H 2 – abundant in oceans H 3 – from Li – abundant in Earth's crust & in the oceans Temperatures > 100 million °C (for a Thermonuclear reaction) Sustained reaction to produce substantial energy to increase efficiency Inside a plasma chamber

Structure of 2 H and http: //www. pppl. gov/fusion_basics/pages/fusion_reactions. html 3 H

http: //www. pppl. gov/fusion_basics/pages/fusion_reactions. html

http: //www. pppl. gov/fusion_basics/pages/fusion_power_plant. html

How much Energy does Nuclear Fusion offer? ● ● ● Estimates say there is enough H 2 for 10 trillion Quads of energy 1 Quad (quadrillion) = 1015 BTU = 1. 055 Exa. Joules = 293. 07 tera. Watt hours 10 trillion Quads = 1028 BTU = 1. 055*107 yotta. Joules = 2930 yotta. Watt hours ● Yotta = 1027 ● In 1998, the U. S. Consumed 94. 27 Quads ● Enough energy for 1*1011 years

Other Advantages to Fusion ● ● More rapid decay of nuclear waste (50 -100 yrs) Only produces 6, 000 tons of waste per year (only about 10 m 3) ● Amount of energy available ● NO 2 & SO 2, sources of acid rain, not produced

ITER ● International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) Station ● Approved to be built in Cadarache, France ● Expected to be built in about a decade ● Cost: 4. 57 billion euros = $5. 53 billion

Cold Fusion ● Dr. Martin Fleischmann, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Utah ● “On the Table” Fusion ● Currently being studied for heating homes ● Reaction with H-attracted elements (like Palladium and Titanium)