Fusion Power - Never?

[Darth Wong]

It's not just a matter of infrastructure. Right now, every Tokomak model relies upon a "blanket" inside the structure which absorbs radiation and functions as part of the energy conversion mechanism. However, it gets worn down by normal operations: magnetic confinement only confines the bulk of the material; outliers continuously escape confinement and impact the interior of the torus, thus damaging the blanket. Also, the entire interior is bombarded with radiation.

One of the big hurdles is to make a blanket which can last long enough to make this whole operation worthwhile, because you have to periodically replace it and if the replacement period is too short, it's just not worth it. And a lot of this hinges upon continuing advances in materials science. There are some truly brilliant people working on this: much smarter than someone like myself. But that doesn't mean they must succeed.

[Zixinus]

Also consider the history of the past 50 years regarding plasma science: there is a plan ,that according to all observed behavior to that point, should work perfectly but when its tried in an experiment, a new phenomena or effect or whatever its correctly called, is found and everything has to go back to the drawing board. Plasma is very erratic and difficult to study. Originally, when the first Tokamaks were made, it was hoped that making a commercial unit would be quick. Of course, the experiments made the researchers more and more disillusioned with every test.

This is why people should remain skeptical regarding fusion.

Now, if some Polywell-wanking is excused:

Right now, every Tokomak model relies upon a "blanket" inside the structure which absorbs radiation and functions as part of the energy conversion mechanism. However, it gets worn down by normal operations: magnetic confinement only confines the bulk of the material; outliers continuously escape confinement and impact the interior of the torus, thus damaging the blanket.

From what I understand this one of the continuous problems: the blanket changes the magnetic fields and makes confinement increasingly difficult. Also, the blanket is setting right next to cryogenically cooled superconductors.

This is the reason why Polywell is so attractive to fusion enthusiasts. The electromagnet(s) inducing and accelerating the particles is a formation of rings, thus only a portion of the radiation (about 20-30% last I heard) is absorbed. Of course, cooling and protecting this rings will be one hellofa headache, although supposedly due to the method involved. Less powerful electromagnets can be used for the first (hoped? dreamed?) commercial units, using super-cooled copper rather then superconducters.

Well, that's what the Dr.Bussard talked about anyway.

One of the big hurdles is to make a blanket which can last long enough to make this whole operation worthwhile, because you have to periodically replace it and if the replacement period is too short, it's just not worth it. And a lot of this hinges upon continuing advances in materials science.

Curiously, the Doc also experimented with copper-cooled Tokamaks for this reason. The idea was that using copper, the costs of an unit would be severely cheapened and could be replaced much more quickly to make it economical. This was called the Ringatron, I think.

Whether the idea is good or not, I am not sure. No experimental unit was made, as the funds were never secured for it. The Doc grew increasingly distrustful of the government's research funding policy, to the point that he wanted private investors instead of government aid. I've heard that the supposed papers and plans were quite good, and would have theoretically worked. The reasons why it wouldn't were not known to the Doc as they were still researched at that time.

It was after this that he turned to IEC devices akin to those to Hansburg's and Farnsworth's work. The history of these devices is also interesting, as the researched started with a hoax to help secure funding: http://www.fusor.net/board/view.php?bn= ... 1188238350

Curiously, later actual, working (neutron-producing anyway) devices were made out of this effort.

From there on, there appears to be a scientific debate that I can't quite follow. It involves someone called Dr.Rider discrediting several IEC schemes in one paper. The Doc claimed that he was wrong. Another team also working with IEC-like scheme even published a paper regarding Rider's papers.
Who's right or wrong, I can't quite follow. There is a discussion regarding whether there was political motivation behind Rider's paper. Last I heard, he was working in a different field then fusion.