how does a tokamak work?

Question

what do you need to build one,how ir it powered,how does it produce power & how much power does it produce

Answer 1

Good question.

I can't answer it here, it would take to long, but I suggest you go to this web site:
http://www.iter.org/a/index_use_1.htm
then click the link to read more under intro to fusion.
Then go to fusion as an energy source click read more, and then click how.

This page does a good job on explaining the basics of a plasma confinement. If you have more specific question feel free to ask.

Answer 2

You need toroidal, poloidal, and vertical field coils (magnets) to confine the plasma, and a wave, neutral beam injector plus a sizable electric substation to start it up. It is powered by any of several methods of heating a plasma: Wave, Neutral Beam Injection, and Ohmic. Fusion occurs in the plasma, and we can either use a steam cycle or something called Direct Energy Conversion. Direct Energy conversion is essentially a linear accelerator in reverse. A potential (Voltage) is used to slow and stop the particles thereby creating current. Finally, the amount of power produced is heavily dependent on the volume of the plasma. ITER has a volume the size of an olympic swimming pool. It is also dependent on something called power density, which is power per unit volume. Power density is dependent on the type of reaction, Deuterium-Deuterium, Deuterium-Helium3, etc and the temperature at which it is occuring. You also need to think about something called bremmstrahlung radiation and synchrotron radiation, as well as line radiation. It is important to have a pure plasma. A 1% oxygen impurity and a fusion reactor WILL NOT WORK!

Answer 3

Do you mean tomahawk.