Introduction
- It is merger of Two or More Smaller Atoms to form a Larger Atom
- Fusion of 4 Simple Hydrogen - Helium
- Fusion of 1 Hydrogen & 1 Tritium - Helium
- Fusion of 2 Deuterium - Helium
Example of Sun: Fusion of 4 Hydrogen Atoms to Form Helium
- For Fusion to Happen we require Plasma State
- Fusion Powers the Sun and we want to Harness that source of Energy on Earth for that Purpose we are Building Reactors on Earth
Difference Between Fission and Fusion
ㅤ | Fission | Fusion |
Intro | Breaking up of Large Atom like U 235 | Joining up of Two or More Smaller Atoms |
Input | U 235, Pu, U 233 | Input 1h1 2h1 3h1 |
Output | Radioactive Waste | He |
Efficiency | Million Times more Efficient Times than Conventional Power | 3 to 4 times more efficient than Fission |
Pre Condition | Doesn't Require Plasma State | Requires Plasma State |
Nuclear Disaster | Essentially in Fission | Fusion is more safer than Fusion
|
Electricity | Can Occur even if Elec or Cooling System Goes Off | No risk of meltdown, if elec goes off there will be no plasma and hence No Fusion |
Bombs | Deadly | More Deadlier than Fission Bomb |
Similarities Between Fission & Fusion
- Both are Sustainable i.e they are more Environmental Friendly compared to conventional sources of Energy
- Both are Enormous Source of Energy
The Fusion Reactor is Famously Known as Tokamak
- Tokamak is Russian word for Donut
- This Design of the Fusion Reactor was initially given by Andrei Sakharov. It is a magnetic Confinement Design, Supermagnets confine the Flow of Plasma.
- Plasma is Produced with the Help of Electricity, in the Plasma Fusion Occurs and the heat released is absorbed by the walls. This Heat is extracted by the cooling circuits and is used to convert water into steam. This Steam Rotates the Turbine, which in Turn Rotates the Generator and in turn, Electricity is Produced
- Super Magnet is used for Controls the Movement of Plasma
Challenges to Fusion Reactor
- Very High Energy is Required to Create Plasma
- High Energy is Required to Maintain the Flow of Plasma
- High Qty is required to run the Super Magnets
- At present, the output i.e the heat produced due to fusion is much less than the Input Energy. It is because we are not able to sustain the Fusion reaction for Long
- Scientists from the 1960s are trying to Tweak the design so as to reduce the Input Energy and Increase Output Energy
- Technologically Fusion is so Sophisticated that Humanity will need to collaborate to make fusion reactors
- One Such Collaboration is ITER i.e International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. In this 35 nations built a nuclear reactor in Southern France.
- Collaborating Countries are China, India, France, the USA, Russia, and South Korea.
- It has the design of the Tokamak and it will produce the first plasma by 2025.
Fusion Reactor Names of Countries
- China calls its Fusion Reactor its Artificial Sun
- the government announced that the West Burton power station site in Nottinghamshire has been selected as the home for ' STEP ' (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), the UK's prototype fusion energy plant which aims to be built by 2040.
- Tokamak - Collaboration of 25 Countries
