3 ms·
Seems like it could also be mechanical. There are gigantic Diesel engines that have pistons capable of each absorbing this kind of energy. Have a little bit of
by api 5y ago
Seems like it could also be mechanical. There are gigantic Diesel engines that have pistons capable of each absorbing this kind of energy. Have a little bit of gas or water near the target and there will be quite an expansion.
Also a "thermonuclear internal combustion engine" is kind of retro-futuristic and cool.
- skinkestek 5y agoWow, cool idea!
- willis936 5y agoThis is General Fusion's approach.
- robocat 5y agoLargest Diesel engine in the world[1] burns 160g (5.6oz) of diesel each combustion, within a 960mm (38in) diameter cylinder with a 2500mm (8.2ft) stroke. A barrel of oil is about 160 litres and contains 6.1E9 Joules[2], so each combustion stroke is about 6MJ. The fusion reaction released 1.3MJ of energy. So a single cylinder fusion engine seems realistic! [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wärtsilä-Sulzer_RTA96-C https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wärtsilä-Sulzer_RTA96-C [2] https://www.ocean.washington.edu/courses/envir215/energynumbers.pdf https://www.ocean.washington.edu/courses/envir215/energynumb... A Cheeseburger weighs 3.9oz for comparison https://cockeyed.com/science/weight/cheeseburger-mcdonalds.html https://cockeyed.com/science/weight/cheeseburger-mcdonalds.h...