How would electricity be generated from a nuclear fusion reactor?

In summary: One article (sorry, lost the link) said that we would need 10000 MW/m3 power density, and 1 million degrees K per m temperature gradient. It is not easy dealing with such extremes.
  • #36
@cmb: Don't confuse "I don't know how it is done" with "it is unknown how it is done". Just because you are unaware of the research doesn't mean the research wouldn't exist. The tritium yield if you shoot neutrons into lithium is well-studied. How to extract the tritium efficiently is one of the things ITER will study. It doesn't need to produce all its tritium for that aspect, or even a significant fraction. If it can show that it could produce 8% of its tritium demand using 5% of the blanket area that is perfectly fine.
cmb said:
I don't think the OP's question was about ITER
It wasn't about tritium breeding either.
cmb said:
The additional dimension to the question is that if a future fusion power station were to operate in a pulsed mode, how long is the pulse/cycle time and what is the impact of that on generating power from it? If the future for a fusion power station is not a pulsed mode, then ITER can't really scientifically conclude much about continuous operation. So I don't think we know an answer to the OP's question, yet, and it's unclear if anyone really has a good idea about it.
ITER aims at 10 minutes, DEMO at 2 hours. Tokamaks have to be pulsed, but the time between pulses can be very short if the magnets can ramp fast enough. Short enough and you can produce electricity continuously. A bit longer and you want some short-term on-site energy storage. The impact on the cost per kWh would be negligible. And it doesn't impact the way electricity is generated from fusion.
 
<h2>1. How does a nuclear fusion reactor generate electricity?</h2><p>A nuclear fusion reactor generates electricity by using the energy released from the fusion of two or more atomic nuclei. This process creates a tremendous amount of heat, which is used to create steam that drives turbines and generates electricity.</p><h2>2. What is the fuel source for a nuclear fusion reactor?</h2><p>The fuel source for a nuclear fusion reactor is typically a combination of two isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium. These isotopes are found abundantly in water and can also be produced from other elements.</p><h2>3. Is nuclear fusion a safe way to generate electricity?</h2><p>Yes, nuclear fusion is considered to be a safe way to generate electricity. Unlike nuclear fission, which is used in current nuclear power plants, fusion does not produce long-lasting radioactive waste or have the potential for a meltdown.</p><h2>4. How efficient is a nuclear fusion reactor at producing electricity?</h2><p>Currently, nuclear fusion reactors are not yet efficient enough to be used for commercial electricity production. However, scientists are working to improve the efficiency of fusion reactions and hope to achieve a net energy gain in the near future.</p><h2>5. What are the potential benefits of using nuclear fusion for electricity generation?</h2><p>If successful, nuclear fusion could provide a nearly limitless source of clean energy without producing greenhouse gas emissions or long-lasting radioactive waste. It could also reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and provide a more stable and reliable energy source.</p>

1. How does a nuclear fusion reactor generate electricity?

A nuclear fusion reactor generates electricity by using the energy released from the fusion of two or more atomic nuclei. This process creates a tremendous amount of heat, which is used to create steam that drives turbines and generates electricity.

2. What is the fuel source for a nuclear fusion reactor?

The fuel source for a nuclear fusion reactor is typically a combination of two isotopes of hydrogen, deuterium and tritium. These isotopes are found abundantly in water and can also be produced from other elements.

3. Is nuclear fusion a safe way to generate electricity?

Yes, nuclear fusion is considered to be a safe way to generate electricity. Unlike nuclear fission, which is used in current nuclear power plants, fusion does not produce long-lasting radioactive waste or have the potential for a meltdown.

4. How efficient is a nuclear fusion reactor at producing electricity?

Currently, nuclear fusion reactors are not yet efficient enough to be used for commercial electricity production. However, scientists are working to improve the efficiency of fusion reactions and hope to achieve a net energy gain in the near future.

5. What are the potential benefits of using nuclear fusion for electricity generation?

If successful, nuclear fusion could provide a nearly limitless source of clean energy without producing greenhouse gas emissions or long-lasting radioactive waste. It could also reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and provide a more stable and reliable energy source.

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