DaveR said:I am giving a presentation on helium 3 for a future energy source and i am looking for a way to describe (and compare) how much energy is released in a helium 3 reaction (D-T would be fine). some thing that would be clear to people who have no science background. (i.e. the amount of H-3 that could fit in this raquet ball would be more powerful than a truckload of TNT) something like that anyway.
Thanks
Dave
Scientists estimate there are about 1 million tons of helium 3 on the moon, enough to power the world for thousands of years. The equivalent of a single space shuttle load or roughly 25 tons could supply the entire United States' energy needs for a year, according to Apollo17 astronaut and FTI researcher Harrison Schmitt.
Helium 3 energy is a type of nuclear energy that uses the isotope helium-3 as a fuel source. Helium-3 is a rare and non-radioactive isotope of helium that can be found on the moon and can potentially provide a cleaner and more efficient source of energy compared to traditional nuclear energy sources.
Traditional nuclear energy uses uranium as a fuel source and produces radioactive waste, while Helium 3 energy uses helium-3 and produces significantly less waste and no radioactive byproducts. Additionally, Helium 3 energy has the potential to be more efficient and have a higher energy output compared to traditional nuclear energy.
The use of Helium 3 energy could potentially provide a cleaner and more sustainable source of energy compared to traditional fossil fuels. It also has the potential to reduce carbon emissions and decrease our dependence on non-renewable energy sources.
One major drawback of Helium 3 energy is the limited availability of helium-3. It is a rare isotope that can only be found in small quantities on the moon. This means that obtaining enough helium-3 to power large-scale energy production on Earth would be extremely difficult and costly.
No, Helium 3 energy is not currently being used as a source of energy on a large scale. However, some research and development is being done to explore its potential uses and feasibility for future energy production.