Table of Contents
- 1 What are current issues with magnetic fusion?
- 2 Why do fusion reactors not exist?
- 3 What are the cons of nuclear fission?
- 4 What is the problem with the tokamak?
- 5 What are 3 advantages of using fusion?
- 6 Why is fusion difficult?
- 7 Can plasma physics be used to model thrusters?
- 8 What is the basic physics of plasma?
What are current issues with magnetic fusion?
Unfortunately, there are several difficulties with magnetic fusion power. The two main issues are the plasma confinement and the proper materials. The fusion plasma is very difficult to confine with the magnetic fields.
Why do fusion reactors not exist?
Normally, fusion is not possible because the strongly repulsive electrostatic forces between the positively charged nuclei prevent them from getting close enough together to collide and for fusion to occur.
Why isn’t fusion an energy source?
One of the biggest reasons why we haven’t been able to harness power from fusion is that its energy requirements are unbelievably, terribly high. In order for fusion to occur, you need a temperature of at least 100,000,000 degrees Celsius. That’s slightly more than 6 times the temperature of the Sun’s core.
What are the cons of nuclear fission?
The Disadvantages of Nuclear Fission
- It is dangerous.
- It is explosive.
- It creates harmful waste products.
- It is not a renewable energy resource.
- It can develop long-term health issues for people exposed.
- It has high start-up costs.
What is the problem with the tokamak?
The stored thermal and magnetic energy in the hot plasma can lead to plasma instabilities and loss of plasma confinement, i.e., plasma disruptions1. Loss of plasma confinement is a serious issue in tokamak devices that threatens successful operation of the tokamak designs.
What are the pros and cons of fusion power?
Pros
- Clean energy.
- Virtually limitless fuel available.
- No chain reaction. Easier to control or stop than fission.
- Little or no nuclear waste. Core remains radioactive for only 100 years.
- Very low fuel cost.
What are 3 advantages of using fusion?
Advantages of Fusion
- Clean. Fusion produces zero greenhouse gas emissions, emitting only helium as exhaust.
- Safe. Fusion energy is inherently safe, with zero possibility of a meltdown scenario and no long lived waste.
- Abundant. There is enough fusion fuel to power the planet for hundreds of millions of years.
- On Demand.
Why is fusion difficult?
Without the electrons, atoms have a positive charge and repel. This means that you have to have super high atomic energies to get these things to have nuclear fusion. High energy particles are the problem. This is why fusion is difficult and fission is relatively simple (but still actually difficult).
What are the Maxwell’s equations for Plasma Physics?
3.2 Maxwell’s Equations The electric and magnetic fields that exist in electric propulsion plasmas obey Maxwell’s equations formulated in a vacuum that contains charges and currents. Maxwell’s equations for these conditions are \\= \ \
Can plasma physics be used to model thrusters?
Many of the plasma conditions and responses in thrusters can be modeled by fluid equations, and kinetic effects are only important in specific instances. There are several textbooks that provide very comprehensive introductions to plasma physics [1–3] and the generation of ion beams [4].
What is the basic physics of plasma?
Basic Plasma Physics. 3.1 Introduction. Electric propulsion achieves high specific impulse by the acceleration of charged particles to high velocity. The charged particles are produced by ionization of a propellant gas, which creates both ions and electrons and forms what is called a plasma.
What happens when a plasma particle moves?
Moving charged particles generate electric currents, and any movement of a charged plasma particle affects and is affected by the fields created by the other charges. In turn this governs collective behaviour with many degrees of variation. Plasma is distinct from the other states of matter.