4 ms·
Helion is trying to capture the energy directly using the magnetic confinement field instead of a heat-driven turbine I am not sure if any of the other designs
by conradev 5y ago
Helion is trying to capture the energy directly using the magnetic confinement field instead of a heat-driven turbine
I am not sure if any of the other designs avoid the turbine
- KiwiJohnno 5y agoA completely different approach to fusion that may or may not work but can do direct generation of electricity without a turbine is pollywell fusion
- ncmncm 5y agoBut, even less is being spent on that than on other aneutronic designs, which themselves are on shoestring budgets. Theoretical reasons make it seem like an unpromising avenue.
- willis936 5y agoConfinement approaches aren't inherently neutronic or aneutronic. What matters is the temperature, desnity, and confinement time (lawson criterion). Get it sufficiently high then DT becomes a breeze. Get it a factor of 500 higher and pB11 is on the table. No one serious talks about aneutronic fusion because we need to walk 1 mph before we sprint at 500 mph. We'll seriously discuss aneutronic fusion in 200 years when it's relevant.
- willis936 5y agoWhich will never work because of conduction losses in the coils. You can't just put solid materials inside your confinement volume and expect to make power.