The ITER Fusion Reactor Project

What is fusion and why is it important?  Fusion is a type of nuclear reaction that fuels the stars.  Fusion uses very little fuel to produce huge amounts of power.  Researchers are looking at how we can harness this energy on earth so that we can have a clean energy source that can meet our growing energy needs.  Fusion is a type of nuclear reaction that fuels the stars.  Fusion uses very little fuel to produce huge amounts of power.  Researchers are looking at how we can harness this energy on earth so that we can have a clean energy source that can meet our growing energy needs.

What is fusion and why is it important?  Fusion produces more energy than fission, which is the reaction that current reactors use.  Fusion produces less waste than other forms of nuclear and conventional power as its fuel, Deuterium and Tritium, combine to produce helium, which has many uses, and a single neutron which can be used in further reactions.  Fusion produces more energy than fission, which is the reaction that current reactors use.  Fusion produces less waste than other forms of nuclear and conventional power as its fuel, Deuterium and Tritium, combine to produce helium, which has many uses, and a single neutron which can be used in further reactions.

Fuel  Fuel needed to continuously produce 1 gigawatt of energy for one year:  Coal-fired powerplants need 4.4 million tonnes of black coal or 10.8 million tonnes of brown coal.  A fission reactor needs 1.3 tonnes of uranium-235.  Fusion only needs 150 Kilograms of deuterium and 500 Kilograms of Lithium.  Fuel needed to continuously produce 1 gigawatt of energy for one year:  Coal-fired powerplants need 4.4 million tonnes of black coal or 10.8 million tonnes of brown coal.  A fission reactor needs 1.3 tonnes of uranium-235.  Fusion only needs 150 Kilograms of deuterium and 500 Kilograms of Lithium.

Waste  Fossil fuels emit sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, radioactive isotopes, mercury and carbon dioxide as waste byproducts.  Coal fueled power station emits 100 times more radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere than a nuclear power plant of equivalent power output.  Fusion reactors emit none of these waste products and have essentially no impact on the environment.  Fossil fuels emit sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, radioactive isotopes, mercury and carbon dioxide as waste byproducts.  Coal fueled power station emits 100 times more radioactive isotopes into the atmosphere than a nuclear power plant of equivalent power output.  Fusion reactors emit none of these waste products and have essentially no impact on the environment.

Is fusion worth exploring?  Advantages:  Unlimited fuel.  No CO2 or air pollution  Safe and reliable process.  No radioactive emissions or long term radioactive waste.  Good chance of the cost being competitive in both economical and environmental aspects.  Advantages:  Unlimited fuel.  No CO2 or air pollution  Safe and reliable process.  No radioactive emissions or long term radioactive waste.  Good chance of the cost being competitive in both economical and environmental aspects.

Is fusion worth exploring?  Problems  The ITER Project is currently looking at overcoming the three major problems with fusion reactors.  They need to be able to initiate the reaction under controlled circumstances and sustain it for long enough for it to produce a useful amount of energy.  They are trying to contain the reaction in a suitable environment for long periods of time.  The final obstacle is finding the most efficient way to capture the energy that is produced by the reaction.  Problems  The ITER Project is currently looking at overcoming the three major problems with fusion reactors.  They need to be able to initiate the reaction under controlled circumstances and sustain it for long enough for it to produce a useful amount of energy.  They are trying to contain the reaction in a suitable environment for long periods of time.  The final obstacle is finding the most efficient way to capture the energy that is produced by the reaction.

References Tom Duncan, (2005). Advanced Physics (5th ed.). Hodder Murray. Australian Acadamy of Science, Retrieved November 18th 2007 from Australian Acadamy of Science, Retrieved November 18th 2007 from EFDA JET, Retrieved November 19th 2007 from The ITER Project, Retrieved November 19th from The IAEA, Retrieved November 20th 2007 from Tom Duncan, (2005). Advanced Physics (5th ed.). Hodder Murray. Australian Acadamy of Science, Retrieved November 18th 2007 from Australian Acadamy of Science, Retrieved November 18th 2007 from EFDA JET, Retrieved November 19th 2007 from The ITER Project, Retrieved November 19th from The IAEA, Retrieved November 20th 2007 from