3 ms·
Cheaper and smaller than all the existing experimental fusion reactors such as Wendelstein 7X or the under construction reactor ITER. The vast majority of thei
by kuschku 3y ago
Cheaper and smaller than all the existing experimental fusion reactors such as Wendelstein 7X or the under construction reactor ITER.
The vast majority of their size, weight, and cost is related to maintaining extremely low temperatures for the superconductors right next to the angry neutrons.
If you could use a regular coolant loop with heat pumps and only needed to maintain, say, -20°C, it'd be much easier to keep the superconductors cool and transport away the neutrons' heat.
- roarcher 3y agoThe neutrons are an issue because they slowly destroy the reactor materials [1]. Point is, even with better superconductors we'd still be a long way from practical fusion power. They'd be a step forward, but they're not the key that's going to unlock a world of cheap clean energy. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_embrittlement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutron_embrittlement