What is the pressure of gas inside an inertial fusion pellet?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the pressure of gas inside an inertial fusion pellet, exploring the implications of this pressure for the viability of inertial fusion as an energy source. The scope includes theoretical calculations and practical applications related to nuclear engineering.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Homework-related

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions consulting a professor about the viability of inertial fusion and expresses uncertainty about the pressure of gas within the pellet.
  • Another participant suggests using the standard gas law to estimate pressure, contingent on knowing the mass of the gas inside the pellet.
  • A later reply provides specific details about the pellet, including a burnup rate of 45%, a mass of 1 mg, and energy requirements for the fusion process, but does not directly address the pressure question.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the pressure of the gas inside the pellet, and multiple viewpoints regarding the necessary information for calculation remain present.

Contextual Notes

The discussion lacks specific values for the mass of the gas and other necessary parameters to apply the gas law effectively. There are also unresolved assumptions regarding the conditions within the pellet.

theCandyman
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I asked one of the professors in the nuclear engineering department recently how inertial fusion could be a viable energy source if so little matter was fused. He told me that I would be suprised and said that I should do the calculation myself. I found the volume of the pellet, but now I have the problem of finding the pressure of the gas inside it. Does anyone know what it is?
 
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If you know the mass of the gas inside, you can use the standard gas law as a good approximation. If you don't know the mass, there is no solution.
 
theCandyman said:
I asked one of the professors in the nuclear engineering department recently how inertial fusion could be a viable energy source if so little matter was fused. He told me that I would be suprised and said that I should do the calculation myself. I found the volume of the pellet, but now I have the problem of finding the pressure of the gas inside it. Does anyone know what it is?
Candyman,
Courtesy of the University of California - Berkeley:
http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/thyd/ne161/kwilson/icf.html
" Each pellet has about a 45% burnup rate, is cyrogenic and multilayered,
and has a mass of 1 mg."
or
"Each pellet has a gain of 150, and the target requires 1 MJ of energy for
explosion. The fuel is burned at a rate of 20 pellets per second."
Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Candyman,
Courtesy of the University of California - Berkeley:

http://www.nuc.berkeley.edu/thyd/ne161/kwilson/icf.html

" Each pellet has about a 45% burnup rate, is cyrogenic and multilayered,
and has a mass of 1 mg."

or

"Each pellet has a gain of 150, and the target requires 1 MJ of energy for
explosion. The fuel is burned at a rate of 20 pellets per second."

Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist
 
Last edited by a moderator:

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