Nuclear power without radioactivity

Highlights in Chemical Technology ^ | 24 March 2010 | Yuandi Li

[neverdem]

Fusion energy without radioactivity: laser ignition of solid hydrogen–boron (11) fuel

[tet68]

Probably only 10 or 20 years away...

[HiTech RedNeck]

Cool. Or hot.

[theymakemesick]

I guess this means we can expect the environazis and demonrats to despise it.

[dangerdoc]

“Probably only 10 or 20 years away...”

Yep.

I still hope to be pleasantly surprised some day.

[dhs12345]

Now we are talking! Lets hope it happens soon.

Of course, Liberals and enviros won't like for some silly reason.

[chimera]

This ignites the fuel, producing helium atoms, energy and neutrons which cause radiation.

Neutrons don't "cause radiation". Neutrons are elementary particles that can interact with the nuclei of atoms in any numbers of ways. For some reactions, a radioactive nucleus may result. Not in all cases, but where it does you have to manage the reaction products, as you do for most things, be they nuclear reactions, chemical reactions, industrial processes, whatever.

[DannyTN]

"'It was a surprise when we used hydrogen-boron instead of deuterium-tritium. It was not 100 000 times more difficult, it was only ten times,' says Hora. '

More difficult than what? the deuterium-tritium? If it's even 10 times more difficult, why do it? What's the advantage. Poorly written article.

[Secret Agent Man]

In fact, neutrons control reactor energy from going critical. Neutrons can absorb energy (electrons).

[TokuMei]

Exciting, but I think now more than ever before it is clear to libs that for survival they realllllllly need a widepsread public perception of hunger, scarcity, or impending disaster.

Sorry to be dark about it, but I think the closer they get to something wonderful like this, powerful forces will rush to the fore. When they do, they will certainly not be so stupid as to say, “Throw away this miracle”.

Instead, they’ll say that the system needs validation —of the ENDLESS variety. And they’ll use some other fancy words, something about needing to foster in a period of Orderly Adjustment, or something like that.

And then after they consent, the experts will be helicoptered out into the middle of the ocean for some exciting meeting, and then pushed out the door, sort of like in Chile.

Problem solved.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***But nuclear energy currently comes with a serious environmental and health hazard side effect - radiation***

Sounds like the plot from the movie MIRAGE from 1965.

[The Antiyuppie]

The problem is, that fusion power has always been 10 or 20 years away.

[chimera]

In fact, neutrons control reactor energy from going critical.

I guess I don't see what you're saying. All the reactor theory courses I've had teach that for thermal reactors, control is maintained by keeping the prompt neutron population just below critical, and maintaining criticality or changing it slightly by control of the delayed neutron populations. Fast reactor control systems manipulate the fast (epithermal) neutron population directly, but LWR technology has always relied on the delayed component for effective control. The delayed neutron fraction is a crucial term in accident transient analysis.

Neutrons can absorb energy (electrons).

Again, it isn't clear what you're saying here. Neutrons can certainly gain (or lose) energy depending on the particular reaction they are involved in (elastic scattering, inelastic scattering, capture and re-emission, spallation, whatever). A neutron-electron interaction can have a variety of outcomes. In scattering processes, it typically involves the interaction of the magnetic moment of the neutron with the magnetic field generated by the moving electron. But there can be other results as well.

[chimera]

It's been 20 years away from break-even for the last 40 years.

[mad_as_he$$]

This could be hugh and series!!!!

[eclecticEel]

Nuclear power without radioactivity is an oxymoron, what he means is “less radioactivity” as compared to some other options.

[muleskinner]

It's always good when someone who knows the subject pipes up.

I thought neutrons were the source of the heat...which generates the steam for the turbines. How is the heat generated in this new discovery?

[neverdem]

If it's even 10 times more difficult, why do it? What's the advantage.

From the original article linked in the first comment:

From the beginning of fusion energy research, a long term goal has been to use the unique H–¹¹B reaction:

H + 11B = 3 4He + 8.664 MeV

(4)

since it results in the production of MeV alpha particles and no neutrons by bombarding boron targets with protons of energies up to 150 keV.^29,30 The energetic alpha particle products are ideal for highly efficient direct conversion into electricity to achieve a reduction in waste heat pollution.² The produced alpha particles can also be collimated with magnetic fields for space propulsion.^2,30 Secondary reactions lead to some H–¹¹B radioactivity but this is less per unit of energy produced than burning coal,³¹ which naturally contains 2 ppm uranium.

[DannyTN]

Ah, so I see, using H-B results in less radiation So even though it’s a little more difficult, it’s worth doing. Thanks.

[oyez]

Our current administration isn't interested in anything practical and especially if it has anything to do with nuclear.(Nuclear power has demons and evil spirits in it) They want solar panels and windmills.

Eventually the government will have the power to ration energy, just like they now have the power to ration health-care.