4 ms·
The main Proton-Boron reaction produces charged particles instead of neutrons. You can capture the charged particles directly as a source of voltage with no in
by Rhinobird 7y ago
The main Proton-Boron reaction produces charged particles instead of neutrons. You can capture the charged particles directly as a source of voltage with no intermediate step. Just stick a piece of metal in the way and hook up wires.
Conventionally, neutrons are used to generate heat which is then used to drive steam turbines.
- NortySpock 7y agoWouldn't it produce high-velocity charged particles? Thus you would capture the energy with a "reverse coilgun", "regeneratively braking" the particles down to a non-relativistic speed, rather than just using them to charge a capacitor plate.
- rklaehn 7y agoOnce the capacitor plate has a voltage in the range of the kinetic energy of the particles, this is exactly what will happen. The particles convert their kinetic energy into electrical energy by rolling "uphill" against the electric potential.
- pfdietz 7y agoAnd all the free electrons produced in that target are helpfully just sitting there, right?
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- Zardoz84 7y agoInteresting... I remember reading about fusion on the high school, and I thought that must be a way to collect the energy directly.