Venture capitalist says nuclear fusion is coming

Next Big Future ^ | February 07, 2008

[jmcenanly]

A picture from the patent filing for what General fusion is trying to build with backing from Chrysalix Energy Venture Capital. GF will build a ~3 meter diameter spherical tank filled with liquid metal (lead-lithium mixture). Rams use compressed steam to accelerate pistons to ~50 m/s. Make compression wave in the liquid metal. Microsecond of fusion once per second. Note: This could be considered like a variant of "steam punk nuclear fusion" made real if it works.

[jmcenanly]

what this site needs is a technology topic area

[Edward Watson]

Interesting. First step until we see “Mr Fusion” everywhere perhaps?

[Philistone]

Yeah, but does it have one of these?

[gusopol3]

what do ypu know about those Chinese projects that were supposed to be close to operational a year or two ago?

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

“steam punk nuclear fusion”
I hate punks!

[Bobalu]

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_punk

[MrEdd]

In before the energy ping.

[jmcenanly]

Maybe not by 2015, but check back in 2028.

Unlike its cinematic counterpart, I don't think it'll run on ethanol

[Yo-Yo]

Lobby for the use of "technology" as a keyword for technology related postings, and add the keyword to any technology related posts you happen across.

It works for the banglist,/a> keyword, and I'm trying to make it work for the aerospace keyword as well.

Bookmark the keyword search, and you have an instant "ping list."

[Moonman62]

Venture capitalist or scam artist?

[Honcho Bongs]

Venture capitalist or scam artist?

Phase 1: Collect underpants

Phase 2: ?

Phase 3: Fusion power!

[Clioman]

“Venture capitalist or scam artist?

Officials of the Lagos, Nigeria-based company promised to make important announcements very soon via e-mail and internet marketing communications, “but due to market conditions would be forced to limit offerings to only those investment parters who SINCERELY want to be millionaires.”

[DManA]

In three to four years, scientists will demonstrate results that show that fusion has a 60 percent chance of success, he said.

Sounds like that sure fire cologne that reporter used in the movie "Anchor Man":

"50% of the time it works every time".

[MilspecRob]

Nuclear Fusion is 20 years away and has been for the last 40 years.

[aft_lizard]

I would change your sentence to, “A controlled Nuclear Fusion reaction is 20 years a way and has been for the last 40 years.”

[pjd]

Of course, no one can predict the future. Especially in technology. But you can make educated guesses. And the best educated guesses, I imagine, would come from the people with the most experience in the subject.

In terms of fusion, I worked with a fellow who was head of the Institute for Nuclear Physics in Russia before he came to the U.S. He was also asked to head the ITER international fusion project, which is the largest fusion initiative yet. He declined, having already spent more years as an administrator than he wished.

Anyway, when I asked him when he thought we would see practical fusion, he did not think it would be in his lifetime and probably at least 50 years away.

I assume that estimate is based on conventional approaches to fusion like magnetic confinement. Barring some, as yet, unimagined technology, we won't see practical fusion for a long, long time.

[Kevmo]

bmflr

[dfwgator]

Hmm, what happened to the last guy who tried to make nuclear fusion?

[struggle]

1. Collect Underpants
2. Nuclear Fusion
3. ????
4. PROFIT!