2007-01-14 14:47:33 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
The ITER project underway in France promises to have a "proof of concept" fusion power plant within a decade, after which it's expected to take several more decades before fusion power generation becomes commercially available. The great promise of fusion power is that it will have minimal impact on the environment, neither leaving pollution or radioactive waste, nor requiring mineral or water resources, or even large swaths of land in which to operate.
Ultimately, the 3He fusion reaction will be perfected, which will offer the cleanest possible nuclear power generation, even more so than current fusion reactions being used today. While rare on Earth, 3He exists in plentiful quantities in the moon's regolith, which can power all of Earth's energy needs for over a thousand years at projected rates. And the gas giant planets like Neptune has even more of it.
2007-01-14 14:53:09 · answer #1 · answered by Scythian1950 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If in fact we could get a nuclear fusion generator working then it would be a good start to fixing global warming. However there is no major breakthroughs, at the moment, that will lead to this invention being stabilised. The figures of 10 or so years are just optimistic people who think that we will have the cure for cancer and AID's by then as well.
So we are no closer to a working nuclear fussion generator than we were 50 years ago.
Why you would want a fusion generator when a fission generator would be much more effective is anyone's guess.
2007-01-14 14:58:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. We are probably a generation or two away from fusion as a good source of power. Oil is now much cheaper (at least in the short term) so the incentive really is not there.
2007-01-14 14:51:12 · answer #3 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Scientists say we are within 10 years. They have been saying that every year for the last 50 years now, so I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.
2007-01-14 14:51:58 · answer #4 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the real problem with it is that there is a huge amount of heat and other types of energy as a biproduct, containing and utulizing this energy is the biggest problem
2007-01-14 14:54:20 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋