7 ms·
Well shit, this is a bit concerning for a reason not discussed: Canada is the world's largest producer of tritium, one of the crucial fuels for fusion. They do
by doctorwho42 3y ago
Well shit, this is a bit concerning for a reason not discussed:
Canada is the world's largest producer of tritium, one of the crucial fuels for fusion. They do this through their heavy water reactor fleet. Without it, it will be additionally difficult to launch fusion power into a viable power system... We will probably need to invest in breeder reactors once Q>3 is achieved.
- AtlasBarfed 3y agoViable fusion will need breeder reactors for tritium? "Old fission" isn't technically a viable economic power system anymore, at least in its current forms. Solar/Wind are so cheap, and still getting percentages cheaper each year, that it gets harder and harder for other forms of power to compete. Even combined cycle natural gas turbine with downstream heat recapture to exceed Carnot efficiency limits can't compete with wind/solar. I get what you mean about viable fusion in just sustaining a energy-positive reaction. But even if that is achieved, fusion will likely not be economically viable outside of industrial high-heat constant-load applications (which there are a lot of, fission should be able to handle those but the waste and proliferation concerns are a real barrier). If there are breeder reactors needed for fuel ... forget viable grid fusion power.