3 ms·

Thanks for the correction about runaway fusion reactions. Does this only prevent it from doing a "Ivy Mike" on us, or can they actually make it passively self-r

Thanks for the correction about runaway fusion reactions. Does this only prevent it from doing a "Ivy Mike" on us, or can they actually make it passively self-regulating to the point that it can't breach the containment? I still think he is being disingenuous when he says that there is no danger of accident with fusion reactors. Proposed designs have huge irradiated masses and very large neutron fluxes. There is going to be a ton of active safety systems needed, any way you imagine it.

uvdiv 15y ago
There's also the fact that the plasma has extremely low density, so there is very little fuel in the core at a time: "Less than 1g of fusion fuel is present in the Vacuum Vessel at any one moment." http://www.iter.org/mach/fuelcycle http://www.iter.org/mach/fuelcycle
teamonkey 15y ago
If there is any disruption in pressure or temperature required for fusion, the reaction will stop almost instantly. In addition, simply interrupting the flow of fuel will immediately stop the reaction safely. There is no chance at all of meltdown or re-ignition of the fuel.