Fusion as a source of energy in 21st century

FUSION AS A SOURCE OF ENERGY IN 21st CENTURY

Almost likely that the world’s energy source in the twenty-first century will be a fusion reactor.

As indicated by the trends of research, it will be based on the reactions as:

1^1H + 2^ 1H + ⎯⎯→ 2^3He +1^On+ energy

2 ^1H +3^1H ⎯⎯→ 4^2He+ 1^On +energy

A fusion reactor thus developed will be any time superior to a fission reactor for generating

electricity.

1. The fusion fuel, deuterium ( 2

1 H ), can be obtained in abundance from heavy water present

in sea water. The supplies of U-235 needed for a fission reactor are limited.

2. A fusion reaction produces considerably greater energy per gram of fuel than a fission

reaction.

3. The products of fusion ( 3

2He , 4

2He ) are not radioactive. Thus, there will be no problem of

waste disposal.

So far, it has not been possible to set up a fusion reactor. The chief difficulty is that the reactant

nuclei must be heated to very high temperatures. A mixture of deuterium and tritium nuclei, for

example, requires 30 million °C before they can fuse. So far no substance is known which can make a

container that could with stand such high temperatures. However, scientists are making efforts to

effect fusion at a lower temperature with the help of las

Wednesday, 5 May 2021