Helion Energy to demonstrate net electricity production by 2024

[jrvz]

Hmm. So I guess the strategy is to use D-D to tune the device for the right plasma conditions (e.g. triple product), then D-He3 and further tuning to maximize the fusion, then yet more tuning to maximize the direct energy out. Hopefully that will demonstrate net electricity production. It seems to me that if D-T is expected to cause damage, it would only make sense to try that if the effort with D-He3 fails. I.e., they'd be demonstrating a path to net energy production, with the caveat that they'd need to redesign to allow for a thermal cycle and more neutron damage.

[Munchausen]

Hmm. So I guess the strategy is to use D-D to tune the device for the right plasma conditions (e.g. triple product), then D-He3 and further tuning to maximize the fusion, then yet more tuning to maximize the direct energy out. Hopefully that will demonstrate net electricity production. It seems to me that if D-T is expected to cause damage, it would only make sense to try that if the effort with D-He3 fails. I.e., they'd be demonstrating a path to net energy production, with the caveat that they'd need to redesign to allow for a thermal cycle and more neutron damage.

What else can they do? There is no He3 to buy so they have to make it themselves from the D-D reaction. There are two possible D-D reactions with the same crossection with only one of them producing He3. So they need two D-D reactions to get one He3. The question has been pondered somewhat earlier in the thread and a claim has been made that the machine to some extent can be tweaked towards making more of the desired reaction. Or perhabs that He3 can be produced in dedicated machines.

May it be as it will with that. They will still have to run the machine with a net energy deficit for an unknown period to produce enough of the fuel they need.

The other reaction produces trititum which eventually will decay into He3. In the long run that may contribute to a more robust fuel cycle. But at the time being the Helion Company will have to prove not only positive net energy from D-He3 but also a credible fuel cycle arrangement.

[mvanwink5]

At this time I would not be surprised if D-D is run & extrapolation is used to claim net electric once He3 is available.