With all sorts of troublesome problems with fossil fuels (i.e. cost and polution), how much effort are we putting in to achieving a stable form of renewable energy?
2007-11-19 10:07:42 · 6 answers · asked by Ben H 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
For a brief moment, it appeared that cold fusion was a possibility. As of now, that appearance is gone. We can't rule it out, but we have no reason to expect it. Fusion appears to be receiving the appropriate amount of attention and funding for its maturity and potential. For now, fission is much more practical.
If stable, renewable energy is so important to you, have you installed a photovoltaic system on your roof? Are you heating your water with solar energy? The payoff for that is very short.
2007-11-19 10:29:13 · answer #1 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cold fusion is incredibly unlikely. However, nuclear fusion research is continuing.
There are two main technologies being developed: Magnetic plasma constriction, and laser inertial devices.
The first is the most developed and in my opinion the most promising. The leading candidate for a fusion reactor is the type called a tokamak, which uses a doughnut-shaped magnetic field to contain a high-energy, low density plasma consisting of deuterium and tritium (hydrogen-2 and hydrogen-3). When these fuse into Helium-4, a high-energy neutron is produced. The energy from these neutrons will be used to generate heat, driving turbines to produce electricity.
The earliest tokamaks were built in the Soviet Union in the 60s. Since the end of the Soviet era, most of the research has been done in Japan and Europe. Currently, scientists are getting very close to the breakeven point, where energy output exceeds the input necessary to keep the reaction going.
About a year ago, seven participants agreed to fully fund the ITER project (the European Union, India, Japan, China, Russia, South Korea, USA), which will be the largest tokamak built to date. The device will be built in southern France, and is expected to be capable of producing up to 500 MW of energy. The next stage will be a prototype that will actually generate electricity, expected around 2060 or so.
The second method, inertial laser confinement, uses pellets enriched with deuterium and tritium as a fuel. The method of fusion initiation is different, but electricity is generated in the same way, from the escaping high-energy neutrons. This technology has been much less successful at approaching break-even than magnetic confinement.
The majority of inertial laser confinement experiments have been in the United States, and most of this has been in the interest of weapons applications rather than power generation.
2007-11-19 10:40:42 · answer #2 · answered by phoenixshade 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fusion is the energy source of the future. And always will be.
Cold fusion was a hoax of the past and never has been any more than that.
Neither fact stops governments from wasting billions on fusion research and hacks from talking people into yet another cold fusion scam.
OTOH, a person's opinion on the viability of both tells you a lot about their persona:
If they believe in fusion, they are either a plasma physicists or scientifically and economically misinformed or both.
If they believe in cold fusion, they are gullible and it's high time to offer them that bridge in Brooklyn. Cheap, just for you, my friend!
Fusion is not a renewable source of energy, by the way. It's just a rather long lasting one. But one could say the same about fission... if it were done right.
In about one billion years our biggest problem would be how to deal with the waste heat of the by far biggest fusion reactor we have, the sun, rather than having to look despereately for more energy sources.
2007-11-19 10:24:01 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Organized business is doing all they can to develop a renewable source of energy, the rewards for the one who succeeds will be enormous, but it will not be done with cold fusion.
2007-11-19 10:31:54 · answer #4 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Cold (or normal) fusion may be harnessed or not. Only the future will tell. We be caring for this rock with a thin coating of life support in a much better way first. My opinion.
2007-11-19 10:11:58 · answer #5 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cold fusion does not exist.
Hot fusion is being developed in the European JET project,
2007-11-19 10:25:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋