Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion is the fundamental reaction that powers our solar system. Our sun—which is so giant that it smashes atoms together with its own gravity—runs on fusion.
While the sun gives us seemingly endless energy, it's harder to replicate those conditions on Earth, making fusion the ultimate engineering challenge.
We know how to do fusion; the challenge is doing it efficiently enough that we use less energy to reach the necessary conditions than we actually get out of the reaction after the fact.
Step 1: Conditions For Ignition
Fusion Conditions
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Fusion is the process in which two light atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, accompanied by the release of a tremendous amount of energy. This reaction occurs under extremely high temperatures and pressures, as seen in the cores of stars where hydrogen nuclei fuse to form helium.
Fusion relies on isotopes like deuterium and tritium, which must overcome their natural electrostatic repulsion to initiate the reaction. It is the principle behind hydrogen bombs and is being developed as a potential source of clean energy.
Unlike fission, fusion produces minimal long-lived radioactive waste, and its fuel sources are abundant, but as stated before, achieving the necessary conditions for sustained energy production remains a significant scientific and engineering challenge.
Step 2: Energy is Released
Fusion: The Reaction
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A fusion reaction takes place when two small nuclei (the center of an atom) combine to form a new element. The "energy" we get from fusion reactions is a result of the new element not being stable with all of the ingredients the original nuclei supplied. As a result, the new atom releases energy in the form of a high energy particle (a particle going super fast!).
Step 2: Harness The Energy
Generating Energy​
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Nuclear fusion reactors harness energy by converting the kinetic energy of fusion products, such as high-energy neutrons, into heat, which is used to generate electricity. During fusion, light nuclei like deuterium and tritium combine to form helium and release energy. This energy is captured in a surrounding blanket, where it heats a working fluid, typically water, to produce steam that drives turbines and generates power. Advanced designs also explore direct energy capture from charged particles for greater efficiency.
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