Possibly the most important science breakthrough happened 2 days ago

[brainhulk]

http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/25/stellarator-fusion-reactor-complete/

Bye bye fossil fuels, welcome the fusion power

 

[disappoint]

http://www.engadget.com/2015/10/25/stellarator-fusion-reactor-complete/

Bye bye fossil fuels, welcome the fusion power

Not this shit again. Fusion reactors do not provide more power than they consume. Not even this new design would.

 

[John Connor]

I got an idea! What if, now bear with me. What if we used LNG to power a small engine and that engine rotated the axial of a generator that produced electrical power to an electric motor turning the wheels of a vehicle? Novel idea, ain't it?

 

[sdifox]

Not this shit again. Fusion reactors do not provide more power than they consume. Not even this new design would.

They can once the technical challenges are worked out. Fusion is real, cold fusion, not so much.

 

[allisolm]

What if, no bare with me.

...bear with me.

Baring with me is an entirely different ballgame. :biggrin:

 

[highland145]

...bear with me.

Baring with me is an entirely different ballgame. :biggrin:

Do tell.

 

[John Connor]

...bear with me.

Baring with me is an entirely different ballgame. :biggrin:

Oopsie

 

[John Connor]

...bear with me.

Baring with me is an entirely different ballgame. :biggrin:

Definition to baring is a British statesmen.

 

[RampantAndroid]

Not this shit again. Fusion reactors do not provide more power than they consume. Not even this new design would.

Maybe read the article. It explicitly calls this out, and is on a slightly different topic.

 

[FerrelGeek]

They can once the technical challenges are worked out. Fusion is real, cold fusion, not so much.

Yep, those pesky technical challenges...

So, we're still 40-50 years away, just like I read, 45 years ago.

 

[sdifox]

Yep, those pesky technical challenges...

So, we're still 40-50 years away, just like I read, 45 years ago.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_nuclear_fusion

 

[notposting]

Maybe read the article. It explicitly calls this out, and is on a slightly different topic.

Seriously. The tokamaks rely on the magnets in the donut layout - however, the magnets on the inside are closer, and the magnetic field is stronger on the inside curve as a result.

They have to use external power to compensate for this, making them a riskier proposition. This stellarator design twists the entire thing, then twists the magnets. This eliminates that obstacle and once it is up and running, should be more stable, in that respect.

Of course, adequate cooling (helium), precise tolerances, and the stresses of hot hot heat will still be challenging. The twist makes it not a nice smooth sail for the particles inside as well - will the magnets be able to successfully contain everything? There won't be "more power! More power!" to get it under control if not.

And finally, this is simply a medium size prototype reactor, not built to be a commercial powerhouse lighting half the globe...

This is pretty exciting stuff. Hopefully they have the warp drives, energy shields, transporters, Holonet, turbolasers, and a lightsabre recharge station in my quarters on the Star Destroyer Enterprise by the time they have the reactors all worked out...

 

[disappoint]

Maybe read the article. It explicitly calls this out, and is on a slightly different topic.

I did. Maybe try reading the OP. We're not ready to say bye bye to fossil fuels just yet.

 

[Ham n' Eggs]

Very cool breakthrough idea.
Looks like it makes the reactors safer in theory.

it may prove to be a significant step forward towards fusion power but the article doesn't imply that it is functional. It also sounds like it's still going to be consuming more power than it produces.

W7-X isn't live yet. The team is waiting on German approval to activate the reactor, which could start running in November. If it works as promised, though, it could do a lot to advance fusion energy. It would prove that stellarators are better than tokamaks for commercial-grade power plants, where you want to eliminate any significant chance of an accident. There's still the not-so-small matter of getting fusion reactors to produce more energy than they consume, but safety might not be a major issue from here on out.

 

[KeithP]

They can once the technical challenges are worked out. Fusion is real, cold fusion, not so much.

True...and once the technical challenges are worked out, fossil fuels will be completely non-polluting. Technical challenges ruin everything don't they?

-KeithP

 

[sdifox]

True...and once the technical challenges are worked out, fossil fuels will be completely non-polluting. Technical challenges ruin everything don't they?

-KeithP

lulz. Most of the emission issues can be mitigated, problem is cost. No one is willing to foot it.

 

[SagaLore]

...bear with me.

Baring with me is an entirely different ballgame. :biggrin:

:$

 

[Linux23]

Great Scott

 

[Jeff7]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_nuclear_fusion

Here's one of my (least) favorite fusion timelines.

"Here's the minimum level where we probably won't ever end up with a practical fusion reactor."

"Hmm.....interesting. But do you think we could go.....cheaper than that?"





.

 

[Cheesemoo]

https://youtu.be/Z8yW5cyXXRc

 

[John Connor]

https://youtu.be/Z8yW5cyXXRc

ROFL.

That butter side up (or was it down?) crap was tested on Myth Busters.

 

[brainhulk]

https://youtu.be/Z8yW5cyXXRc

hahahahahha awesome