Fusion Reactor Planned to be Built in Virginia

Started by kernals12, December 17, 2024, 08:35:37 PM

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SectorZ

Another thing we learned today about Kernals, apparently he watched Snowpiercer and thought "hey, that's a good idea!"


kernals12

Quote from: Roadgeekteen on December 18, 2024, 05:19:38 PMWhat grade do you think Kernals got in science class in high school?

I don't have my high school grades on hand but I got a B+ on GSCI 1050 at UCONN.

kalvado

Quote from: SectorZ on December 18, 2024, 01:29:27 PMThe one thing I've been confused about is this company's SPARC and ARC reactors use deuterium-tritium fuel.

I just feel that acquiring both, especially tritium, in concentrations to sustain constant fusion reactions is the biggest hole in the plan here. Even deuterium is something like 1 in 5000 atoms, which granted is a lot (10^20 atoms per gram of hydrogen) but that's a lot of waste non-neutron carrying hydrogen to weed out. The fusion process does make some tritium on its own to boost it, but deuterium isn't created by anything so it's finite resource. Maybe finite to a long timescale, but is finite.

Maybe, especially since I am not a nuclear physicist, I am missing something here, but it seems that the experts are light on details while pulling in billions in taxpayer funds for it all.

However, if this works as planned and is scaled up over the years, it will be one of the biggest achievements in human history.
heavy water is sold by the ton. Tritium is a more interesting one, but primarily for weapon control reasons. 
Anyway, fuel for these reactors is a well known business.

kernals12

other interesting applications of fusion power

1) A massively overpowered garbage incinerator that would turn man's most toxic effluents into inert and useful materials in a matter of seconds

2) Air and spacecraft that would have far more usable payload without the weight of fuel.

kalvado

Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 12:23:12 PMother interesting applications of fusion power

1) A massively overpowered garbage incinerator that would turn man's most toxic effluents into inert and useful materials in a matter of seconds

2) Air and spacecraft that would have far more usable payload without the weight of fuel.
Ok, so dynamics of spaceflight is yet another area you don't know

kernals12

Quote from: kalvado on December 28, 2024, 01:37:22 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 12:23:12 PMother interesting applications of fusion power

1) A massively overpowered garbage incinerator that would turn man's most toxic effluents into inert and useful materials in a matter of seconds

2) Air and spacecraft that would have far more usable payload without the weight of fuel.
Ok, so dynamics of spaceflight is yet another area you don't know

I guess this is going to be one of those times I bring something up, someone calls me an idiot, I cite a source, and then that person just ignores it.

kalvado

Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 01:59:30 PM
Quote from: kalvado on December 28, 2024, 01:37:22 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 12:23:12 PMother interesting applications of fusion power

1) A massively overpowered garbage incinerator that would turn man's most toxic effluents into inert and useful materials in a matter of seconds

2) Air and spacecraft that would have far more usable payload without the weight of fuel.
Ok, so dynamics of spaceflight is yet another area you don't know

I guess this is going to be one of those times I bring something up, someone calls me an idiot, I cite a source, and then that person just ignores it.
Two things here. NASA is still playing with concerts from 1950s, but that's ok. but you are unable to understand even those. 3000s Isp would be great for flight to orbit, but up there is pretty modest. Xenon is doing it better.

Max Rockatansky

Speaking 'fusion" what is the thoughts in the crowd about Metroid Fusion?  I thought that was a top five game in the Gameboy Advance library. 

kernals12

Quote from: kalvado on December 28, 2024, 02:36:44 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 01:59:30 PM
Quote from: kalvado on December 28, 2024, 01:37:22 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 12:23:12 PMother interesting applications of fusion power

1) A massively overpowered garbage incinerator that would turn man's most toxic effluents into inert and useful materials in a matter of seconds

2) Air and spacecraft that would have far more usable payload without the weight of fuel.
Ok, so dynamics of spaceflight is yet another area you don't know

I guess this is going to be one of those times I bring something up, someone calls me an idiot, I cite a source, and then that person just ignores it.
Two things here. NASA is still playing with concerts from 1950s, but that's ok. but you are unable to understand even those. 3000s Isp would be great for flight to orbit, but up there is pretty modest. Xenon is doing it better.

Are you actually downplaying the impact of a 6 fold reduction in propellant needed to reach orbit?

kalvado

Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 03:33:55 PM
Quote from: kalvado on December 28, 2024, 02:36:44 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 01:59:30 PM
Quote from: kalvado on December 28, 2024, 01:37:22 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 12:23:12 PMother interesting applications of fusion power

1) A massively overpowered garbage incinerator that would turn man's most toxic effluents into inert and useful materials in a matter of seconds

2) Air and spacecraft that would have far more usable payload without the weight of fuel.
Ok, so dynamics of spaceflight is yet another area you don't know

I guess this is going to be one of those times I bring something up, someone calls me an idiot, I cite a source, and then that person just ignores it.
Two things here. NASA is still playing with concerts from 1950s, but that's ok. but you are unable to understand even those. 3000s Isp would be great for flight to orbit, but up there is pretty modest. Xenon is doing it better.

Are you actually downplaying the impact of a 6 fold reduction in propellant needed to reach orbit?
If - and that an extremely huge if - such engine can be suitable for high thrust atmospheric operation withsome safety considerations - it would be a huge deal.
I didn't see much beyond conceptual sketches. This is on exact same page - "the first wall is not a problem!" Ok, boy, great job. Now run back to your mommy.

kernals12

This will please Max to no end. One of the reasons for the recent spurt of progress in fusion is AI that is proving useful in preventing the extremely hot plasma from escaping the magnetic field.

Max Rockatansky

I prefer my fusion reactions to be done the analog way thank you very much.  Save that AI for the 150 MPH cars where it belongs. 

SectorZ

Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 07:25:53 PMThis will please Max to no end. One of the reasons for the recent spurt of progress in fusion is AI that is proving useful in preventing the extremely hot plasma from escaping the magnetic field.

QuoteScientists say they can use AI

Wake us when they actually do it. Scientists says they can do lots of things until they can't. The only thing AI is achieving right now is a new way to make shitty memes and creating a new massive carbon footprint that people with no carbon footprint will be rendered responsible to fix by increasingly moronic governments.

vdeane

Fusion?  AI?  Sounds like a job for Spider Man...


Please note: All comments here represent my own personal opinion and do not reflect the official position of NYSDOT or its affiliates.

kalvado

Quote from: SectorZ on December 28, 2024, 08:40:21 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 28, 2024, 07:25:53 PMThis will please Max to no end. One of the reasons for the recent spurt of progress in fusion is AI that is proving useful in preventing the extremely hot plasma from escaping the magnetic field.

QuoteScientists say they can use AI

Wake us when they actually do it. Scientists says they can do lots of things until they can't. The only thing AI is achieving right now is a new way to make shitty memes and creating a new massive carbon footprint that people with no carbon footprint will be rendered responsible to fix by increasingly moronic governments.
Frankly speaking, a lot of this "scientists say" is actually "journalist didn't understand a damn thing, but has a deadline"
Fun thing about AI data centers, though, is that they are straining existing power grid big time. Next big blackout would be on chatgpt.

Max Rockatansky

Quote from: vdeane on December 28, 2024, 08:48:47 PMFusion?  AI?  Sounds like a job for Spider Man...




I prefer the roles reversed version of Spider Man 2.  The last second dig at Mary Jane Watson is the chef's kiss.


kernals12

I mentioned fusion powered aircraft and yet nobody has bothered to bring this up. Shameful




Max Rockatansky

Probably because the amount of people who actually care on a road forum is limited. 

SectorZ

Quote from: kernals12 on December 29, 2024, 12:27:31 AMI mentioned fusion powered aircraft and yet nobody has bothered to bring this up. Shameful





kkt

Quote from: kernals12 on December 29, 2024, 12:27:31 AMI mentioned fusion powered aircraft and yet nobody has bothered to bring this up. Shameful



And when is that from?

kalvado


kernals12

Quote from: kalvado on December 29, 2024, 05:53:38 PM
Quote from: kkt on December 29, 2024, 04:41:48 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 29, 2024, 12:27:31 AMI mentioned fusion powered aircraft and yet nobody has bothered to bring this up. Shameful



And when is that from?

2060s
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbirds_(TV_series)

Weirdly, for a show set that far in the future, there were few robots or computers

kkt

Quote from: kalvado on December 29, 2024, 05:53:38 PM
Quote from: kkt on December 29, 2024, 04:41:48 PM
Quote from: kernals12 on December 29, 2024, 12:27:31 AMI mentioned fusion powered aircraft and yet nobody has bothered to bring this up. Shameful



And when is that from?

2060s
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderbirds_(TV_series)

Okay, I was really wondering when the vehicle was designed real world, not when it was supposed to be set.  But it was on the wikipedia page.  Mid 1960s.



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