Download or read book Fusion s Promise written by Matthew Moynihan and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2023-03-24 with total page 285 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For over 60 years, scientists and engineers have been trying to crack a seemingly intractable problem: how to build practical devices that exploit nuclear fusion. Access to electricity has facilitated a standard of living that was previously unimaginable, but as the world’s population grows and developing nations increasingly reap the benefits of electrification, we face a serious global problem: burning fossil fuels currently produces about eighty percent of the world's energy, but it produces a greenhouse effect that traps outgoing infrared radiation and warms the planet, risking dire environmental consequences unless we reduce our fossil fuel consumption to near zero in the coming decades. Nuclear fusion, the energy-producing process in the sun and stars, could provide the answer: if it can be successfully harnessed here on Earth, it will produce electricity with near-zero CO2 byproduct by using the nuclei in water as its main fuel. The principles behind fusion are understood, but the technology is far from being fully realized, and governments, universities, and venture capitalists are pumping vast amounts of money into many ideas, some highly speculative, that could lead to functioning fusion reactors. This book puts all of these attempts together in one place, providing clear explanations for readers who are interested in new energy technologies, including those with no formal training in science or engineering. For each of the many approaches to fusion, the reader will learn who pioneered the approach, how the concept works in plain English, how experimental tests were engineered, the future prospects, and comparison with other approaches. From long-established fusion technologies to emerging and exotic methods, the reader will learn all about the idea that could eventually constitute the single greatest engineering advance in human history.
Download or read book A Piece of the Sun written by Daniel Clery and published by Abrams. This book was released on 2014-07-29 with total page 243 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How physicists are trying to solve our energy problems—by unlocking the secrets of the sun: “Explain[s] cutting-edge science with remarkable lucidity.” —Booklist This revelatory book tells the story of the scientists who believe the solution to the planet’s ills can be found in the original energy source: the Sun itself. There, at its center, the fusion of 620 million tons of hydrogen every second generates an unfathomable amount of energy. By replicating even a tiny piece of the Sun’s power on Earth, we can secure all the heat and energy we would ever need. The simple yet extraordinary ambition of nuclear-fusion scientists has garnered many skeptics, but, as A Piece of the Sun makes clear, large-scale nuclear fusion is scientifically possible—and perhaps even preferable to other options. Clery argues passionately and eloquently that the only thing keeping us from harnessing this cheap, clean and renewable energy is our own shortsightedness. “Surprisingly sprightly…Clery walks readers through the history of fusion study, from Lord Kelvin, Albert Einstein and a large cast of peculiar physicists, to all manner of international politics—e.g., the darts and feints of the Cold War, the braces applied by OPEC in the wake of the 1973 war among Israel, Egypt and Syria. Clery negotiates the hard science with aplomb.” —Kirkus Reviews “A timely perspective on truly urgent science.” —Booklist “Ultimately, Clery argues that developing a source of energy that won’t damage the climate—or ever run out—is worth striving for.” —Publishers Weekly
Download or read book The Future Of Fusion Energy written by Jason Parisi and published by World Scientific. This book was released on 2019-01-02 with total page 405 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'The text provides an interesting history of previous and anticipated accomplishments, ending with a chapter on the relationship of fusion power to nuclear weaponry. They conclude on an optimistic note, well worth being understood by the general public.'CHOICEThe gap between the state of fusion energy research and public understanding is vast. In an entertaining and engaging narrative, this popular science book gives readers the basic tools to understand how fusion works, its potential, and contemporary research problems.Written by two young researchers in the field, The Future of Fusion Energy explains how physical laws and the Earth's energy resources motivate the current fusion program — a program that is approaching a critical point. The world's largest science project and biggest ever fusion reactor, ITER, is nearing completion. Its success could trigger a worldwide race to build a power plant, but failure could delay fusion by decades. To these ends, this book details how ITER's results could be used to design an economically competitive power plant as well as some of the many alternative fusion concepts.
Download or read book An Indispensable Truth written by Francis Chen and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2011-04-11 with total page 444 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recent books have raised the public consciousness about the dangers of global warming and climate change. This book is intended to convey the message that there is a solution. The solution is the rapid development of hydrogen fusion energy. This energy source is inexhaustible and, although achieving fusion energy is difficult, the progress made in the past two decades has been remarkable. The physics issues are now understood well enough that serious engineering can begin.The book starts with a summary of climate change and energy sources, trying to give a concise, clear, impartial picture of the facts, separate from conjecture and sensationalism. Controlled fusion -- the difficult problems and ingenious solutions -- is then explained using many new concepts.The bottom line -- what has yet to be done, how long it will take, and how much it will cost -- may surprise you. Francis F. Chen's career in plasma has extended over five decades. His textbook Introduction to Plasma Physics has been used worldwide continuously since 1974. He is the only physicist who has published significantly in both experiment and theory and on both magnetic fusion and laser fusion. As an outdoorsman and runner, he is deeply concerned about the environment. Currently he enjoys bird photography and is a member of the Audubon Society.
Download or read book Sun in a Bottle written by Charles Seife and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2008 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Chronicles the last half century's haphazard attempt to harness fusion energy, describing how governments and research teams throughout the world have employed measures ranging from the controversial to the humorous.
Download or read book Powering the Future Fusion Reactors and Beyond written by Charles Nehme and published by Charles Nehme. This book was released on with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the realm of human innovation, few pursuits have captured our imagination quite like the quest for fusion power. It is a journey marked by scientific curiosity, technological ingenuity, and the aspiration for a sustainable energy future. From the intricacies of plasma physics to the engineering marvels of containment vessels, the pursuit of fusion has spurred collaboration across disciplines and nations, offering tantalizing promises of clean, abundant energy. This book seeks to unravel the complexities surrounding fusion power, providing a comprehensive overview of its science, technology, and potential impact on our world. It delves into the fundamental principles that govern fusion reactions, explores the various approaches to achieving controlled fusion, and examines the challenges that lie ahead on the path to practical fusion energy. While the concept of fusion has been studied for decades, recent advancements in fusion research have brought us closer than ever to realizing its potential. Breakthroughs in materials science, computational modeling, and fusion reactor design have reignited optimism within the scientific community and sparked renewed interest from policymakers and industry leaders. However, the road to fusion energy is not without obstacles. Technical hurdles, funding constraints, and public perception issues pose formidable barriers to overcome. Yet, with perseverance and innovation, the dream of harnessing the power of the stars in a controlled manner is within reach. As we stand on the brink of a new era in energy production, it is imperative that we confront the challenges of our time with resolve and determination. Fusion power represents a beacon of hope in our quest for a sustainable future, offering the promise of clean, reliable energy for generations to come. This book serves as a testament to the remarkable progress made in the field of fusion research and a call to action for continued investment and collaboration. By exploring the science, technology, and potential of fusion power, we hope to inspire readers to join us on this transformative journey towards a brighter tomorrow. Welcome to the fusion revolution.
Download or read book Fusion written by Joan Lisa Bromberg and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 1982 with total page 386 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For more than thirty years, the prospect of unlimited fusion energy has attracted scientists and the public. Joan Lisa Bromberg's book documents the history of the American magnetic fusion reactor program. It is also a lively account that will inform interested citizens of limited technical background who are concerned with the nation's energy strategy. The book carries the story from the program's inception under the auspices of the Atomic Energy Commission in 1951 to its operations under the then-new Department of Energy in 1978. Fusion concentrates on the four federally funded laboratories where most of the money has been spent (about $2 billion so far): Oak Ridge, Los Alamos, Lawrence Livermore, and Princeton. It recounts the crucial experiments along the way - the ones that succeeded, the ones that failed, the ones that showed promise. And it explains and diagrams the various magnetic configurations and devices that were developed and tested: the stellarator, the pinch, the mirror, the tokamak. With the government and the public constantly looking over the scientists' shoulders, it is no surprise that research directions were heavily influenced by extrascientific pressures: the major decisions in fusion research have always emerged from a medley of technical, institutional, and political considerations. The intermingling of science and politics is demonstrated in specific detail. The magnetic fusion reactor project is, of course, ongoing. Latest target date for producing commercial power: 2050. Estimated total cost: $15 billion. Dr. Bromberg has written extensively on topics in the history of modern science.
Download or read book Edge of Infinity written by and published by . This book was released on 2020 with total page 2 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Clean, limitless energy is no longer the stuff of science fiction. Nuclear fusion is very real, with the potential to generate an inexhaustible supply of zero-carbon energy, without the intense radioactive risks that come with nuclear fission. Using the same process that powers the sun and stars, fusion eliminates nuclear waste, runs on hydrogen isotopes derived from abundant resources (seawater and lithium) and eradicates the threat of a reactor meltdown. And it's within reach.
Download or read book Bad Science written by Gary Taubes and published by Random House (NY). This book was released on 1993 with total page 536 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Documents the bizarre 1989 episode of 2 scientists who announced they had created a sustained nuclear-fusion reaction at room temperature & the ensuing scandal.
Download or read book Fun in Fusion Research written by John Sheffield and published by Newnes. This book was released on 2013-02-20 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book discusses the fun side of the quest to develop fusion energy—a modern equivalent of the hunt for the Holy Grail. After more than 70 years of research, despite great progress, the goal has not been realized. Do you have to be crazy to love quests like this? Not really, but you do have to have an unshakeable optimism. Through humorous anecdotes, and accessible yet detailed scientific discussion, this book illuminates the enjoyment of scientific research through an account of fifty years working on fusion energy development. The anecdotes bring out the human side of research, in which innovative and sometimes egocentric scientists create both clever and nutty experiments. Among the many stories within are witchcraft at Harwell, shocking experiences, entertaining talks, and the wit of top scientists such as Marshall Rosenbluth. Above all the book highlights the significant advances made in developing practical fusion energy and the promise for an exciting future with the National Ignition Facility and International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. This book will be of interest to physicists as well as other students and researchers in the scientific and wider communities. Shows the exciting and fun aspects of science research Author has spent 54 years working in the area, offering key insights on the history of fusion Clear, detailed explanations of fusion energy are supplied, helping non-science readers understand the area
Download or read book Examination of the United States Domestic Fusion Program written by Lauren Amanda Merriman and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 47 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fusion has been "forty years away", that is, forty years to implementation, ever since the idea of harnessing energy from a fusion reactor was conceived in the 1950s. In reality, however, it has yet to become a viable energy source. Fusion's promise and failure are both investigated by reviewing the history of the United States domestic fusion program and comparing technological forecasting by fusion scientists, fusion program budget plans, and fusion program budget history. It is evident that delays in progress were due to both technologic and economic setbacks. In order for the US to become a leader in fusion energy, it must continue supporting domestic fusion experiments while maintaining involvement in ITER.
Download or read book The Fusion Quest written by T. Kenneth Fowler and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 280 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: To help answer this question, Fowler explains the physical principles on which fusion is based, describes the experiments that have led to the present state of the art, and shows how all these considerations would affect the design of possible fusion-based nuclear power plants.
Download or read book The Chemistry of Fusion Technology written by D. Gruen and published by . This book was released on 1972-11-01 with total page 412 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book A Review of the DOE Plan for U S Fusion Community Participation in the ITER Program written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2009-01-21 with total page 57 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ITER presents the United States and its international partners with the opportunity to explore new and exciting frontiers of plasma science while bringing the promise of fusion energy closer to reality. The ITER project has garnered the commitment and will draw on the scientific potential of seven international partners, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the United States, countries that represent more than half of the world's population. The success of ITER will depend on each partner's ability to fully engage itself in the scientific and technological challenges posed by advancing our understanding of fusion. In this book, the National Research Council assesses the current U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) plan for U.S. fusion community participation in ITER, evaluates the plan's elements, and recommends appropriate goals, procedures, and metrics for consideration in the future development of the plan.
Download or read book The Fourth Industrial Revolution written by Klaus Schwab and published by Currency. This book was released on 2017-01-03 with total page 192 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: World-renowned economist Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, explains that we have an opportunity to shape the fourth industrial revolution, which will fundamentally alter how we live and work. Schwab argues that this revolution is different in scale, scope and complexity from any that have come before. Characterized by a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, the developments are affecting all disciplines, economies, industries and governments, and even challenging ideas about what it means to be human. Artificial intelligence is already all around us, from supercomputers, drones and virtual assistants to 3D printing, DNA sequencing, smart thermostats, wearable sensors and microchips smaller than a grain of sand. But this is just the beginning: nanomaterials 200 times stronger than steel and a million times thinner than a strand of hair and the first transplant of a 3D printed liver are already in development. Imagine “smart factories” in which global systems of manufacturing are coordinated virtually, or implantable mobile phones made of biosynthetic materials. The fourth industrial revolution, says Schwab, is more significant, and its ramifications more profound, than in any prior period of human history. He outlines the key technologies driving this revolution and discusses the major impacts expected on government, business, civil society and individuals. Schwab also offers bold ideas on how to harness these changes and shape a better future—one in which technology empowers people rather than replaces them; progress serves society rather than disrupts it; and in which innovators respect moral and ethical boundaries rather than cross them. We all have the opportunity to contribute to developing new frameworks that advance progress.
Download or read book Introduction to Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion written by Francis F. Chen and published by Springer Science & Business Media. This book was released on 2013-03-09 with total page 427 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: TO THE SECOND EDITION In the nine years since this book was first written, rapid progress has been made scientifically in nuclear fusion, space physics, and nonlinear plasma theory. At the same time, the energy shortage on the one hand and the exploration of Jupiter and Saturn on the other have increased the national awareness of the important applications of plasma physics to energy production and to the understanding of our space environment. In magnetic confinement fusion, this period has seen the attainment 13 of a Lawson number nTE of 2 x 10 cm -3 sec in the Alcator tokamaks at MIT; neutral-beam heating of the PL T tokamak at Princeton to KTi = 6. 5 keV; increase of average ß to 3%-5% in tokamaks at Oak Ridge and General Atomic; and the stabilization of mirror-confined plasmas at Livermore, together with injection of ion current to near field-reversal conditions in the 2XIIß device. Invention of the tandem mirror has given magnetic confinement a new and exciting dimension. New ideas have emerged, such as the compact torus, surface-field devices, and the EßT mirror-torus hybrid, and some old ideas, such as the stellarator and the reversed-field pinch, have been revived. Radiofrequency heat ing has become a new star with its promise of dc current drive. Perhaps most importantly, great progress has been made in the understanding of the MHD behavior of toroidal plasmas: tearing modes, magnetic Vll Vlll islands, and disruptions.
Download or read book The Future of Fusion Centers Potential Promise and Dangers Serial No 111 15 April 1 2009 111 1 Hearing written by and published by . This book was released on 2010 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
