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  • Author Author: Eavesdropper
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Sustained fusion reaction ever closer

Eavesdropper
 
Almost a year ago, the National Ignition Facility (The "NIF") started down the path to create a sustained fusion reaction, a cold fusion reactor. Over 200 tons of laser glass distributed across 192 lasers are used in the core. The goal is to start a fusion chain reaction in hydrogen pellet fuel. The heat produced the fusion will boil water that turns turbines.
 
The issue so far is the amount of power the lasers consume. One test fire, which was for a fraction of a second, used more power than the whole of the United States (during that fraction). According to the BBC, NIF Director Ed Moses said that other fractional tests consumed more power than the entire world combined during that time period.
 
Another issue is the amount of hydrogen fuel the reaction will need. Approximately 10 pellets per second, or over a million a day. However, 1,300 pounds of fuel could provide as much electricity as 2 million metric tons of coal.
 
Moses said we all should see major developments at NIF over the next 10 years. See more informative videos in NIF's Youtube channel.
 
Eavesdropper
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  • I would be more impressed if they had actually accomplished laser induced fusion during the last 50 years.  The whole pitch is mostly excuses about why they have not succeeded.  I have followed their lack of progress for the last forty years and I will be surprised if they manage to make this thing work anytime in the next forty years.

     

    Granted, they have made a lot of scientific firsts, but I have yet to see anything that would justify the Billions of dollars they have spent so far.  Plus, even if they manage to sustain a small fusion event, the technology needed to create, transfer and feed the number of pellets needed for continuous operation are still to be developed and built.

     

    I hate to say it, but I do not believe I will see this device work in my lifetime.

     

    Just my opinion.

    DAB

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  • I would be more impressed if they had actually accomplished laser induced fusion during the last 50 years.  The whole pitch is mostly excuses about why they have not succeeded.  I have followed their lack of progress for the last forty years and I will be surprised if they manage to make this thing work anytime in the next forty years.

     

    Granted, they have made a lot of scientific firsts, but I have yet to see anything that would justify the Billions of dollars they have spent so far.  Plus, even if they manage to sustain a small fusion event, the technology needed to create, transfer and feed the number of pellets needed for continuous operation are still to be developed and built.

     

    I hate to say it, but I do not believe I will see this device work in my lifetime.

     

    Just my opinion.

    DAB

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