Will we ever get car engined sized fusion power plants?

cgray45 · Post by **cgray45** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 7:45 am

Both Focus Fusion and Polywell fusion systems are small-- in comparison to big generators.

But that's very much "In comparison."

So is it possible that we may one day get them down to car engine in size, or is that bumping up against solid physics (as opposed to engineering) barriers?

Betruger · Post by **Betruger** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 10:54 am

IIRC in one of the previous times this was discussed here, freight trucks were the most promising road going automotive application.

ladajo · Post by **ladajo** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:24 pm

http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/sensors/Phy ... C_2011.pdf

GIThruster · Post by **GIThruster** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 6:55 pm

Does anyone know of a thermal to electrical or mechanical conversion process that is power dense enough for a car? I don't.

BLP's supposed CIHT process supposedly avoids the need for a heat conversion, so this system could be used for small motive applications like autos and small spacecraft, but other than that I don't see one for fusion.

CharlesKramer · Post by **CharlesKramer** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:51 am

cgray45 wrote:Both Focus Fusion and Polywell fusion systems are small-- in comparison to big generators.

But that's very much "In comparison."

So is it possible that we may one day get them down to car engine in size, or is that bumping up against solid physics (as opposed to engineering) barriers?

I don't have the science chops to say with authority, but why not?

In a dense plasma focus device, fusions take place within tiny plasmoids, perhaps leaving hope the process that generates plasmoids can be scaled down enormously - even to a silicon chip level. in 2001 Casio claimed to be working on chip-scaled "reformers" (high heated reactions to liberate hygdrogen for a fuel cell). That's hardly fusion, of course, but it illustrates how small some industrial processes can become.

CBK

KitemanSA · Post by **KitemanSA** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 1:30 pm

GIThruster wrote:Does anyone know of a thermal to electrical or mechanical conversion process that is power dense enough for a car? I don't.

A 4 piston swash-plate Stirling cycle engine has been demonstrated for auto applications. IIRC it has been heated both by a liquid fuel burner and a molten salt heat source.

JoeP · Post by **JoeP** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 11:36 pm

Seems too much tech to put bother putting on a car, unless you are building a time machine or something?

Big fusion power plant nearby making hydrogen for you from water that you buy from the local service station just like gasoline sounds good to me. Or just use batteries, if that technology improves an order of magnitude.

Hmm...on second thought, a fusion powered rover for long term manned Mars mission might be apropos.

Of course, in the off chance if what Rossi claims to have is real, that might be small enough to power a steam engine car. Nice...

CharlesKramer · Post by **CharlesKramer** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 6:25 am

cgray45 wrote:So is it possible that we may one day get them down to car engine in size, or is that bumping up against solid physics (as opposed to engineering) barriers?

Pish posh lad, fantasize big!

Why not fusion generated electricity within a semi-conductor?

There may well be answers to that question (something about scaling laws, perhaps?), but it's fun to think about.

Talk-Polywell.org

Will we ever get car engined sized fusion power plants?

Will we ever get car engined sized fusion power plants?

Re: Will we ever get car engined sized fusion power plants?

Re: Will we ever get car engined sized fusion power plants?