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The problem is that ITER is funded as a science project, and the researchers want to get as much research as possible. So they are going to spend a lot of time
by sjburt 5y ago
The problem is that ITER is funded as a science project, and the researchers want to get as much research as possible.
So they are going to spend a lot of time studying plasma before they irradiate the vessel with fusion byproducts and it's no longer safe to take apart (for example, to add new sensors).
It's the only facility of this size so the research program is completely sequential.
We could have fusion, we just need to spend $20 billion a year for 10 years. Not $1 billion a year for 200 years.
- Robotbeat 5y agoThey could spend the same amount per year and get results in 5-10 years if it were being run competently. There’s no point in babying a facility if it means taking decades too long to get useful results!
- pfdietz 5y agoThe first job of ITER is to show that disruptions can be controlled. This is absolutely necessary, and requires access to the machine to repair it when disruptions occur. So this had better be done without tritium (or possibly even deuterium). And if they can't do it, they will never be allowed to operate the machine with tritium.