adminNUCLEAR FUSION
The sun generates its enormous energy by nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion is a process where atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus releasing vast amount of energy in the process.
There are several types of nuclear fusion reactions and they are; deuterium- tritium (D-T) fusion, deuterium-deuterium (D-D) fusion, deuterium-helium-3 (D-He3) fusion and Proton-proton chain reaction.
Deuterium-tritium (D-T) fusion reaction is the most common fusion reaction where deuterium ( a heavy isotope of hydrogen) and tritium ( a rare isotope of lithium) combine to form helium and a high energy neutron. D-T fusion has a relatively low energy threshold and is considered the most feasible fusion reaction for energy production.
Deuterium- Deuterium (D-D) fusion involves the combination of two deuterium nuclei to form either a tritium nucleus or a proton or a helium-3 nucleus and a neutron. D-D fusion has a higher energy threshold than D-T fusion but can be more desirable due to the abundance of deuterium and the reduced production of neutrons.
Deuterium-Helium-3 (D-He-3) fusion involves the combination of deuterium and helium-3 to form helium-4 and a proton. D-He-3 fusion has a higher energy threshold than D-T fusion but produces no neutrons making it a potentially cleaner and more efficient fusion reaction.
Proton-proton chain reaction is the primary fusion reaction that powers the sun and other stars. It involves the combination of two protons to form deuterium which then combines with another proton to form helium-3 and finally two helium-3 nuclei combine to form helium-4 and two protons.
The advantages of nuclear fusion are as follows; deuterium can be extracted from seawater and tritium can be produced from lithium ensuring a virtually limitless fuel supply. Fusion produces no greenhouse gases or long lived radioactive waste making it environmentally friendly alternative to fossil fuels and traditional nuclear fission. Fusion reactions are inherently safe because they require precise conditions to sustain and any malfunction causes the plasma to cool and the reaction to stop safely. Fusion can generate significantly more energy per kilogram of fuel compared to nuclear fission and fossil fuels.
The disadvantages of nuclear fusion is as follows; achieving and sustaining fusion reactions requires overcoming significant technical hurdles including operating temperature, plasma confinement and material durability. Developing and building a commercial fusion power plant is a costly venture. Fusion reactors require materials that can withstand extreme conditions inside the reactor including high temperature and neutron radiation.
The application of nuclear fusion is as follows; the primary application of nuclear fusion is to generate electricity on a large scale providing a sustainable and in exhaustive energy source. Fusion research has led to advances in plasma physics, material science and other fields.
The future of nuclear fusion is based on the advances and development of the following technologies; advances in nuclear fusion reactor design such as the new reactors like the stellarators and advanced tokamaks will no doubt improve plasma stability and confinement thus enhancing their efficiency. Commercialization of nuclear fusion technology will accelerate the development, deployment and the use of nuclear fusion on a large scale to generate electricity.
SOURCES:
- Nuclear fusion by Edward Morse.
- Systems approaches to nuclear fusion reactors by Frederick B. Marcus.
- Nuclear fusion for beginners by David R. Mayer.
- Nuclear fusion: unlocking the power of the stars by Peter Whiteside.
- The star builders: Nuclear fusion and the race to power the planet.
