Posted on 12/04/2020 11:00:31 AM PST by Red Badger
Beijing has successfully powered up its “artificial sun” nuclear fusion reactor for the first time, China’s People’s Daily reported on Friday. It’s designed to be a clean energy source, similar to the real Sun.
Made to replicate the natural reactions that occur in the sun using hydrogen and deuterium gases as fuels, the HL-2M Tokamak reactor is China's largest and most advanced nuclear fusion experimental research device.
It is located in southwestern Sichuan province and was completed late last year. The reactor is often called an "artificial sun" due to the enormous heat and power it produces.
Men work inside a HL-2M Tokamak nuclear fusion reactor, dubbed as the "artificial sun," under construction in Chengdu, Sichuan province, China. Picture taken June 5, 2019 © Reuters / Liu Haiyun
The HL-2M Tokamak uses a powerful magnetic field to fuse hot plasma and can reach temperatures of over 150 million degrees Celsius, approximately ten times hotter than the core of the Sun.
“The development of nuclear fusion energy is not only a way to solve China’s strategic energy needs, but also has great significance for the future sustainable development of China's energy and national economy,” the People’s Daily reported.
The project is part of China’s involvement with the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), based in France.
The Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), a nuclear fusion reactor dubbed as "artificial sun," in Hefei, Anhui province, China November 14, 2018 © Reuters
The ITER is the world’s largest nuclear fusion project with a price tag of about €20 billion ($24 billion). It involves 35 countries and is expected to be completed in 2025.
Chinese scientists have been working on developing smaller versions of the nuclear fusion reactor, including the HL-2M Tokamak, since 2006.
A technician works on the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST), a nuclear fusion reactor dubbed as "artificial sun", in Hefei, Anhui province, China. Picture taken November 14, 2018 © Reuters
Fusion is considered the Holy Grail of energy and is what powers the Sun, but achieving fusion is both extremely difficult and prohibitively expensive.
By harnessing the power produced through nuclear fusion it is possible to tap into almost limitless clean energy. Researchers around the world have been trying to attain that goal for decades. The main issue has been finding an affordable way to contain piping hot plasma in one space and keeping it stable enough for fusion to occur.
What could go wrong?
Who’d they steal that technology from?
My thoughts exactly. How in the hell would you be able to contain any type of breach or leak with something 10X the power of the sun???
All you need to do to get a steady fusion reaction is heat deuterium and tritium (isotopes of hydrogen) to 100,000,000 degrees.
Piece of cake!
But does it generate net energy?
“That’s a real nice artificial sun you’ve got there...”
Not content with simply unleashing a deadly plague on the world, the Chinese now aim for the mother of all melt-downs.
Just a bright sunny day. Brighter than anything they are used to.
Even if it did, how long can it be sustained when its 10x hotter than the sun unless the cooling system is exceptionally reliable?
What could go wrong?
From the country that brought you covid.
“successfully powered up its “artificial sun” nuclear fusion reactor for the first time, China's People's Daily reported on Friday. It's designed to be a clean energy source, similar to the real Sun.” Isn't commie nonsense great?
I see injectors, a very thin wall and no electromagnets.
If it really was working, the lack of shielding would kill anyone within 100yds.
Fusion releases LOTS of neutrons
Where did they steal the technology from ?
The containment apparatus is insufficient .... therefore the article is a lie !
Of course not. If China had a working fusion generator, that would be big news. But the point is they're doing a ton of fusion research - the US would be smart to do the same.
Dittos
First glance I thought this was on the moon. You know the moon with the 3-inch chicom flag
Chernobyl chopsticks
Nothing about the length of a sustained thermonuclear reaction, or even if there has been one.
There are a bunch controlled fusion devices here and there in the world. Hope this one does great things but no evidence from the article.
Mistakes can be made. I made one recently but this is a lie ....
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