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To: WellyP

I agree with you.

These reactors if they actually work, are nice novelties, how does not complete the power generation cycle? Are they going to be used to generate steam to drive a turbine? How do they complete the conversion into usable energy?


6 posted on 04/21/2018 4:54:08 AM PDT by Ouderkirk (Life is about ass, you're either covering, hauling, laughing, kicking, kissing, or behaving like one)
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To: Ouderkirk; WellyP; PIF
The length of the reaction is also just one part of the fusion puzzle. The reactor also has to be able to withstand discharging the resulting energy in a useful way over a protracted period of time, which also involves significant temperatures and pressure strains. The Tore Supra, another tokamak in France, holds the record for plasma discharge duration at over six minutes.

Fusion power is useless unless the power is harnessed to produce work as in electricity or propulsion.

10 posted on 04/21/2018 5:21:15 AM PDT by Pontiac (The welfare state must fail because it is contrary to human nature and diminishes the human spirit.)
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To: Ouderkirk

“Are they going to be used to generate steam to drive a turbine? How do they complete the conversion into usable energy?”


Nearly all fusion projects aim at direct conversion from plasma discharge to electron generation hence electricity. A totally different path than heat generating fission, because physics allows that.


12 posted on 04/21/2018 5:32:05 AM PDT by miniTAX (au)
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