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nuclear fusion

PliersPliers Posts: 280
edited 2014-10-16 09:36 in General Discussion
I used to get excited about this.

Lockheed announces breakthrough on nuclear fusion energy.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2014/10/15/lockheed-martin-claims-fusion-breakthrough-that-could-change-world-forever/
JETs-fusion-reactor-007.jpg

Comments

  • Duane DegnDuane Degn Posts: 10,588
    edited 2014-10-15 14:12
    It seems like we've been five years from having fusion power since I first heard about fusion power.

    I certainly wish them well but I'm not sure I'd be willing to put much of my money in it if were a Kickstarter. That gives me an idea. . .
  • User NameUser Name Posts: 1,451
    edited 2014-10-15 14:28
    I share your skepticism but it doesn't stop the fantasies that waft through my mind with announcements like this. :)

    I think a game changer like this would be a fabulous jolt to society/politics.
  • Dave HeinDave Hein Posts: 6,347
    edited 2014-10-15 14:43
    I saw an article on this earlier today on Yahoo News, and they said that a practical fusion reactor may be 10 years away. However, if you go to Lockheed Martin's website they say that they've applied for patents on their new technology, and they may have a prototype device in 5 years. Their technology will make it easier to experiment with new ideas because the device will be the size of a truck instead of the size of a building. I didn't see anything on Lockheed Martin's site about a prediction when a practical fusion reactor would be a reality.
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2014-10-15 16:07
    Well, a "magnetic bottle," as mentioned in the article, is pretty much how they all work. Most fusion reactors, like the one operated by General Atomic in San Diego (not a secret but few people know about it, though it's been there for over 30 years), are based on decades-old Tokamak technology, originally pioneered by the Russians.

    The problem with articles like this one from Forbes is that they give scant information, and don't point to authoritative sources for followup. Their article is actually a news piece about the reporting by another news agency (Reuters). Tacky. Like they couldn't have called the PR guy at Lockheed for their own quotes? What's more, the Lockheed announcement is from a year and a half ago. What's happened that it's in the news again?

    At any rate, the Reuters article doesn't provide much more insight on why Lockheed's magnetic containment is any better than the many other similar reactors around the globe.
  • PropGuy2PropGuy2 Posts: 360
    edited 2014-10-15 16:45
    I built some hardware stuff for Lawrence Livermore's fusion reactor in 1985. Like you, I'm still waiting...
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2014-10-16 00:31
    Here's a slightly better article:

    http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/10/16/experts_skeptical_over_lockheed_martins_claims_to_have_cracked_fusion/
  • TorTor Posts: 2,010
    edited 2014-10-16 00:59
    The source: http://aviationweek.com/technology/skunk-works-reveals-compact-fusion-reactor-details

    -Tor
  • evanhevanh Posts: 15,921
    edited 2014-10-16 03:29
    There's been a number of press releases on fusion in recent weeks. One that has apparently been on tiny funding and is gunning for crowd sourced funds: - http://www.gizmag.com/nuclear-fusion-power-2020-crowdfunding/32058/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=3b206d8632-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_65b67362bd-3b206d8632-90700381

    Also, the regular updates of Rossi's ECat of course. And even the Z-Machine team made a claim of energy generation progress, even though they're supposedly meant to be researching weapons.
  • evanhevanh Posts: 15,921
    edited 2014-10-16 04:27
    And another one - http://www.washington.edu/news/2014/10/08/uw-fusion-reactor-concept-could-be-cheaper-than-coal/

    I figured out why now too. As mentioned in that link, there is an annual Fusion Energy Conference this Friday - today for me. Drumming up topics to chin-wag about.
  • ErlendErlend Posts: 612
    edited 2014-10-16 08:15
    Well, the day they figure it out will be the end of economic downturn - with everyone running off to start extremely energy-hungry businesses. I wonder what they will be?

    Erlend
  • GordonMcCombGordonMcComb Posts: 3,366
    edited 2014-10-16 09:36
    The comments (some from real nutjobs) at the bottom of the Aviation Week article are almost better than the article itself! I'm waiting for the one that mentions in 2015 (30 years from 1985) we'll have a Mr. Fusion powering our various appliances.

    Anyway, thanks for that link. Has some good additional info.
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