World's First Fusion Power License

[BeyondKnowledge]

World's first fusion reactor power plant license has been granted to Helion in Washington state. There is a twist. It will generate power from the magnetic pulse instead of the heat through a steam turban system like other designs.

https://www.autonocion.com/us/helion-fusion-energy/

The design is a 60 foot tube that forces pulses of plasma, detuium and tritium, from both ends that collide in the middle where the reaction pulse occurs. The magnetic coils used to fire the charges then generate electricity from this energy pulse. The design is theoretically around 95% energy efficient at recovering this energy pulse.

There are still a few unknowns to work out. One of the original scientists now thinks the pulse will generate instabilities in the field. 

If it works, the core of the reactor could be the size of a shipping container and produce 50 mega watts. So, it could be factory made and moved to installation sites easily. Many more shipping containers would house the capacitor banks and other equipment to operate the reactor and control the power. 

Do we have a possible breakthrough, a puff of smoke, or is it handwavium to separate the investers form there 1.5 billion dollars? The investors include Microsoft and the Ford Motor Company.

We should know by the end of 2028 as there are financial concequence for the company if it doesn't work. 

I think we are close to that fusion powered future predicted 10 years ago. And 10 years before that, and 10 years before that,...

[chr0naut]

World's first fusion reactor power plant license has been granted to Helion in Washington state. There is a twist. It will generate power from the magnetic pulse instead of the heat through a steam turban system like other designs.

https://www.autonocion.com/us/helion-fusion-energy/

The design is a 60 foot tube that forces pulses of plasma, detuium and tritium, from both ends that collide in the middle where the reaction pulse occurs. The magnetic coils used to fire the charges then generate electricity from this energy pulse. The design is theoretically around 95% energy efficient at recovering this energy pulse.

There are still a few unknowns to work out. One of the original scientists now thinks the pulse will generate instabilities in the field. 

If it works, the core of the reactor could be the size of a shipping container and produce 50 mega watts. So, it could be factory made and moved to installation sites easily. Many more shipping containers would house the capacitor banks and other equipment to operate the reactor and control the power. 

Do we have possible breakthrough, a puff of smoke, or is it handwavium to separate the investers form there 1.5 billion dollars? The investors include Microsoft and the Ford Motor Company.

We should know by the end of 2028 as there are financial concequence for the company if it doesn't work. 

I think we are close to that fusion powered future predicted 10 years ago. And 10 years before that, and 10 years before that,...

Instabilities?

Bring on Dr. Otto Octavius!

LOL.

[andy06shake]

High hopes, and I certainly hope it achieves its goals.

But as you suggest, fusion power is always 10 years down the line.

Which will only be true until it's not...

[BeyondKnowledge]

High hopes, and I certainly hope it achieves its goals.

But as you suggest, fusion power is always 10 years down the line.

Which will only be true until it's not...

I am wondering if big solar and wind power will try to stop it. All other fixed electric generation will be obsolete over night as soon as they get it to run. I have seen an article where they have recently made a new cargo aircraft just to move those windmill blades. Bigger then an Antonov but less weight capacity.

All those companies will suddenly be worthless.

[govshill2]

Is this finally the  answer to Global Warming?    

[BeyondKnowledge]

Is this finally the  answer to Global Warming?    

Not really. It will do nothing to the natural climate cycles and varying orbital dynamics. 

It will eliminate a lot of polution caused by covering the planet in windmills and solar cells.

[andy06shake]

I am wondering if big solar and wind power will try to stop it. All other fixed electric generation will be obsolete over night as soon as they get it to run. I have seen an article where they have recently made a new cargo aircraft just to move those windmill blades. Bigger then an Antonov but less weight capacity.

All those companies will suddenly be worthless.

I imagine it would make a lot of things worthless.

Can but hope.

But it's like peace in our time.

Always on the horizon.

But never quite within our grasp.

If practical fusion power becomes a reality.

It could be one of the biggest technologies for expanding human activity beyond the Earth.

Might make our Solar System a hell of a lot "easier" to explore, or at least dramatically lower some of the barriers.

[BeyondKnowledge]

I imagine it would make a lot of things worthless.

Can but hope.

But it's like peace in our time.

Always on the horizon.

But never quite within our grasp.

If practical fusion power becomes a reality.

It could be one of the biggest technologies for expanding human activity beyond the Earth.

Might make our Solar System a hell of a lot "easier" to explore, or at least dramatically lower some of the barriers.

Exactly. It could even turn around the feelings about the data centers. Install a couple at each site and provide free excess power to the grid. 

And electric vehicles would suddenly be practicle as soon as they get a better, less flamable battery system.

Even the hydroelectric dams would be obsolete.

Practically unlimited energy might just get those electric rocket thrusters to a maned mission level of operation.