1. Nuclear Fusion and energy utilities
Created by S. Lumley creative PowerPoint labs

2. What is Fusion?
Fusion is a nuclear reaction that converts matter into energy
It is the same nuclear process that fuels the sun, and so is extremely efficient on usage of fuel.
Where conventional Nuclear fission splits heavy atoms into smaller ones, fusion combines smaller atoms into larger ones.

3. How do you get energy from matter?
Energy is released in nuclear reactions, when atoms are converted more stable atoms
Some atoms are more stable, because they have a larger amount of energy binding them, together (binding energy)
When atoms are converted into more stable atoms the difference in binding energies is released, making the atoms produced, move faster.
This is manifested as heat.

4. Initiating the reaction
In order for 2 nuclei to fuse, they must come close enough for the strong nuclear force to overcome the electro-magnetic force that pushes them apart.
Velocity
Velocity
Strong Nuclear force
Strong Nuclear
force
Electromagnetic force
As the particles get closer and closer together, the repulsive force between them increases, and therefore they will slow down
When the particles, get close enough, the strong nuclear force takes over, and the particles are fused together

5. Problems with initiation
Although the energy released by the reaction is tremendous, a sizable quantity of energy is needed to overcome the initial repulsion
In order for the average energy of the particles to be greater than the required 0.14MeV, the fuel must be at over 100,000,000 degrees.
At this temperature, the atoms are completely ionised, and are in the fourth state of matter: plasma.

6. Plasma solutions
As the plasma is ionised, there are no neutral component of the plasma.
This means it can be influenced by magnetic fields.
Particles follow Circular paths around the magnetic field lines, so if it is already moving forwards…
Magnetic flux line
This means the plasma can be contained, and prevented from touching cooler materials by magnetic fields, however…

7. Container shapes The shape of the magnet is crucial…
In any cylindrical magnet, the plasma would fly out the ends…

8. The solution- The Tokamak
The toroidal (donut) shape of the tokamak means that there are no “ends” for the plasma to come out.

9. Current Tokamaks
Unfortunately, tokamaks as yet, have not been able to reach the break even point, but it is only a matter of time…

10. Advantages and disadvantages of fusion as an electricity source
Fuel is very abundant
Not much Fuel is required per Mw produced
Much safer than other fuel based methods of energy production
No greenhouse gas emissions or radioactive waste
Waste products are harmless
Is more reliable than renewable energy sources
Running costs would be comparatively small
Would not require large areas of land or coast to be set aside.
Disadvantages
Would have extremely high initial capital investment
Operators would require a much higher level of education and training than other electricity production methods
Would be a source of thermal pollution
The reactor itself would be radioactive after long periods of operation. (although they would still become safe again in a much shorter time than the half-lives of some fission wastes)

11. Fuel Fuel Quantity 842 Kg 120Kg 525 Kg 36g 0.16g a year coal
The fuel (deuterium) is very common in seawater, and can easily be extracted in commercial quantities, although very little is required. The average Briton uses this much fuel a year to power their homes.
Fuel
Quantity
coal
842 Kg
Oil
120Kg
Gas
525 Kg
Uranium
36g
However, all of this would be the equivalent to just..
0.16g a year

12. Improved Quality of life
Specific Advantages
Fusion
Money
Power surplus
Leads to
Leads to
Fusion
Electric Cars
Leads to
Drastic drop in greenhouse gas emissions
Less dependence on oil
£Cheap£
£Fusion£
Industrialisation of less economically developed countries
Improved Quality of life
Could Allow
Leads to