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Polywell might help fission
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 9:51 pm
by jlaw
Apparently one of the requirements of a system that would destroy 99% radioactive waste from fission reactors (and possibly fusion reactors?) requires a source of large amounts of neutrons. They have designed it using a tokamak, but polywell (I remember reading something about it creating a large amount of neutrons) might be able to do the job cheaper/easier.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 131654.htm
Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:26 am
by zbarlici
er... jlaw, go here
http://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=5367.0 and read the whole thread, and then you`ll have a better understanding of the whole IEC fusion process. Read the whole thing.
Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:43 am
by KitemanSA
zbarlici wrote:Read the whole thing.
Yep, read the whole thing, when you have a couple days to spare.
With ANY fusion reactor (except maybe cold fusion) it all depends on the fuel. D-T produces 1 neutron for every reaction, D-D one for two. p11B NONE, except for side reactions.
Assuming it works, you could create a polywell that uses D-T fuel and produces as many neutrons per unit power as tokamaks and ICF, and almost certainly more cheaply.