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Fusion Energy and the Future

Ryan Tsang
Chemistry Period 6
Mr. Bridges
28 May 2014






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Fusion Energy and the Future
The human race has advanced a long way since the discovery of nuclear techniques and
medicine. According to technology timelines, any one of them regarding computers, science, or
technology all make it profusely evident that we are surpassing successive innovations by a
matter of moments. An article that defines an idea in one year may be the newest invention in the
next. Nuclear science has been employed to many uses in the past, however, new science on
fusion reactions are progressively innovating factions of science and energy as we know it today.
Nuclear fusion reactions are most prevalent in the field of energy. Fusion energy and the idea has
been hanging around for decades, but many obstacles are impeding the path to success which
holds a clean, efficient means of powering the planet.
Nuclear science itself is commonly associated with terms such as radiation or
biohazard. In a way this is true, with current energy systems moving towards nuclear power
through nuclear fission, radioactive waste is a very present issue that results from toying with the
nucleus. Common practices of nuclear science today include fission reactions for energy. The
current fission method derives energy from shooting neutrons to splice Uranium, which has a
giant nucleus, into smaller atoms in a chain reaction of continual splits and splices. However, the
result yields a decaying Uranium nucleus that wont stabilize until thousands of years in the
future which leaves behind biohazardous waste we must store somehow. Although nuclear and
therefore cleaner than fossil fuels which emit CO2 waste, there is still the radioactive waste that
can harm the environment. Another issue tied with such a method is the quickly depleting
resource in Uranium. Naturally occuring in the environment, the sources have already been
mostly extracted; and according to statitistics, Uranium supplies, if utilized in place of fossil
fuels, will be depleted within 33.6 years (Eric Landau). Clearly, current nuclear issues are
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evident with the radioactivity of decaying nuclear matter through alpha, beta, and gamma
emissions, the long wait associated with the stabilization of such wastes, the possibility of
nuclear accidents with fission reactors as witnessed with Japan and Chernobyl, and the sheer lack
of resources available (particularly Uranium). With such issues and more importantly, the
dissipation of Uranium reserves within the generation leads society to believe that there is a
requisite to discover the next efficient and clean energy source. The answer lies here: Nuclear
Fusion.
Nuclear fusion reactions are the key to succeeding in developing a clean, natural, and
efficient energy source that is virtually unlimited resource wise. The basics of nuclear fusion are
defined as the combining of two smaller atoms into one larger atom with a larger nucleus with
the addition of a large amount of energy. The most common way this is achieved is seen in the
cosmos and thus is the model scientists try to emulate here. Nuclear fusion is witnessed in the
cores of stars, most spectacularly in the sun. Using the sun as an example, a variety of fusion
types are seen including proton-proton fusion, helium fusion, and the carbon cycle. Basically, the
superheated cores of the stars are tightly wound in a chaining cycle of fusion reactions in which
hydrogen particles are slammed together and create helium particles in addition to energy
(Nuclear Reactions in Stars). This is the method which has been experimented with here on
Earth and has been proven to achieve such expectations. Producing more voltage than fission by
an exponential value, the process by which fusion reactions are executed is incredibly
sophisticated. Localized fusion reactions work by enabling a process that creates a tightly
confined, two ended strip that shoots heavy hydrogen particles deuterium and tritium at high
speeds and intense temperatures from the opposing sides. This shape is known as a circular bottle
shape called a tokamak. The mechanism hosting such a reaction must be able to confine heat
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over 100 million degrees; this is done so by the use of magnetic fields to confine the vacuum.
The magnetic fields also contribute to the next critical part of positioning the superheated plasma
particles of hydrogen. Once placement variables are accounted for, the high-speed plasma
particles are blasted at each other. The deuterium and tritium yield helium and high-speed
neutrons that render 17.6 mega-electron volts of energy per helium production. Consecutively,
the voltage produced will be directed through a process that slows the neutrons down and
consequently emits heat which will power steam turbines in order to transmit the power out to
the grid (How Fusion Works). The best attempt of a machine that will be designed to
accomplish this gargantuan task is located in France, dubbed ITER (International Thermonuclear
Experimental Reactor) which has been under construction since July 2010 (Building ITER).
However it is not that simple to produce a machine with such colossal capabilities. The errors
and incapabilities of the model include firstly, the failure to achieve the intense temperatures
needed for an extended period of time, as fusion reactions do not chain like fission reactions do.
Secondly the balance of input and output of electricity resulting from a fusion reaction is not in
favor of the output. Too much electricity is utilized to execute the reaction that not enough
energy is produced in the end to profit from the fusion. Lastly, it is an incredible financial burden
to produce machines that can succeed in such a process. An economically beneficial solution is
of interest. It is a far reached goal that is plagued by some pressing issues that need to be
addressed, however once achieved, the reaction will yield pleasing results.
Energy has been derived easily through fossil fuels and fission reactions, however
concerns were the heavy carbon dioxide emissions that cause global warming, the lack of or
depleting resources, the safety of workers in compromise as seen in uncontrolled reactions of
fission reactors, air pollution, and less nuclear waste (How Nuclear Fusion Reactors Work).
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Fusion energy provides for all of these factors and also many other uses that in the past, would
be implemented only in the most ambitious of dreams. Fusion energy is the exact solution being
it clean of CO2 emissions, virtually inexhaustible in resources, safe, clean of pollution, and
having no nuclear waste. More efficient than both wind and solar power, the other possible
routes, fusion is our future. Many fascinating instances could result from the perfection of fusion.
Scientists have toyed with the star wars type ideology of fusion propulsion into deep space. The
idea itself if very plausible since there is an unlimited supply of Hydrogen in space and with a
proper mechanism to absorb Hydrogen into a fusion reactor, the spaceship would attain
unlimited amounts of fuel granting it the privilege to travel wherever and however long it wishes
(How Fusion Reactors Work 7). As abstract as these ideas get, the most benefit the human
race can receive is from the unlimited source that we so desperately need. With fossil fuels and
Uranium reserves dipping in danger of total depletion, we need fusion now (Steven Cowley).
Earth itself along with the inhabitants of it must evolve in order to avoid extinction.
Charles Darwin proved that about a century ago saying that the strongest survive. As humans
have evolved and adapted to the Earth, the newest issue has arisen and is waiting on the edge to
see if human kind can work the clock and develop the quintessential energy source that thrives
on its own, the ability to harness a source of power that is inexhaustible, unlimited, and
something that will power the Earth for millions of generations ahead of us. The answer is
simply complex: Fusion: an ideology so simple, yet so complex to achieve. If nuclear fusion
energy can be successfully deployed, new facets of the world will open such as clean energy,
unlimited energy, waste free energy, deep space explorations, and the ideas can engulf us
endlessly. But it all relies on our ability to harness the power of the abundance of hydrogen. A
plan has been developed in ITER and nuclear fusion is forecasted to make its debut in 30 years.
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Thirty years simply, is too far. Efforts need to be done in order to speed up the process as Steven
Cowley states in his speech. Humankind cant afford to sit around on this topic, fusion energy is
incredibly complicated to harness through reactors and EU power plants and the Earth needs it
now.














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Works Cited
Freudenrich, Ph.D. Craig. "How Nuclear Fusion Reactors Work." HowStuffWorks.
HowStuffWorks.com, 11 Aug. 2005. Web. 23 May 2014.
"Fusion Energy." : How Fusion Works. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2014.
"Fusion Is Energy's Future." Steven Cowley:. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2014.
"ITER - the Way to New Energy." ITER - the Way to New Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May
2014.
"Nuclear Reactions in Stars." Nuclear Reactions in Stars. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2014.
"World Uranium Supply." - Eric Landau. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 May 2014.