Fusion as a Future Energy Source

Fusion as a future energy source

Creating Nuclear Fusion could be a break through in finding an alternative source of energy. As of today we do not have the technology to make a nuclear fusion reactor, but we could be relying on them for power sometime in the next 30 to 40 years.

Nuclear Fusion is created by forcing deuterium (D) and tritium (T) together, when forced together their nuclei fuse and then break apart to form a helium nucleus and an uncharged neutron. Most of the excess energy is contained in the free neutron.

Fusion occurs at a very high temperature (greater than 100 million Kelvin). At this temperature the deuterium and tritium gas mixture becomes a plasma. The problem with creating fusion is controlling the plasma. One way of controlling the plasma is by using powerful magnetic fields, scientists are working on a machine called the Tokamak. This machine forces the plasma to spiral along the magnetic field lines, and keeps the plasma from getting to close to the walls.

In the near future people are going to have to rely on an alternative source of energy, something other then nuclear fission, and burning fossil fuels which are running low and are bad for are environment. If we can create nuclear fusion it could give us a source of energy of thousands of years to come.

The fuels required to create fusion are abundant. Deuterium can be extracted from all forms of water, which is the last resource we will run out of. Tritium does not occur naturally but it can be extracted from lithium, which is plentiful in the earths crust. Creating nuclear fusion is safe too, the amount of plasma being used at one time is very small, and the conditions require for fusion to occur are difficult to attain. There is no way the plasma can proceed into an uncontrollable or critical condition.

One of the most important advantages of creating nuclear fusion is it will produce no greenhouse gasses and will not contribute to global warming, also the is no radioactive waste form the fusion reaction, the byproduct of the fusion reaction is helium which is a harmless gas. I believe sometime within my lifetime, nuclear fusion will be a valuable resource in providing energy for earth.