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| polywell_fusion [2010/01/31 01:16] – created zobeid | polywell_fusion [2010/01/31 01:18] (current) – zobeid |
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| The fuel of a polywell reactor is boron-11 and helium ions. These elements are relatively plentiful and inexpensive throughout known space. Polywell reactors do not produce nuclear waste, nor are they capable of meltdown or explosion. They produce electrical energy directly, without thermal conversion, which makes them highly efficient and means they don't need the huge cooling towers of conventional power plants. | The fuel of a polywell reactor is boron-11 and helium ions. These elements are relatively plentiful and inexpensive throughout known space. Polywell reactors do not produce nuclear waste, nor are they capable of meltdown or explosion. They produce electrical energy directly, without thermal conversion, which makes them highly efficient and means they don't need the huge cooling towers of conventional power plants. |
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| There is a lower limit to the size a polywell can be made and produce net power. This prevents them from being used in most vehicles, aside from spaceships and large ocean-going ships. A huge fusion-powered aircraft was once built as a demonstration, but it proved impractical to operate. Thus, most aircraft continue to burn liquid fuel, often biofuels. Most of the rail networks are fusion powered, but only indirectly -- power is fed from stationary fusion plants through the track system to the locomotives. Thus, a reactor is not carried on board the train itself. Also, most automobiles in our setting use [[power cells]], which are charged from the electrical grid with fusion-generated electricity. | There is a lower limit to the size a polywell can be made and produce net power. This prevents them from being used in most vehicles, aside from spaceships and large ocean-going ships. A huge fusion-powered aircraft was once built as a demonstration, but it proved impractical to operate. Thus, most aircraft continue to burn liquid fuel, often biofuels. Most of the rail networks are fusion powered, but only indirectly -- power is fed from stationary fusion plants through the track system to the locomotives. Thus, a reactor is not carried on board the train itself. Also, most automobiles use [[power cells]] which are charged from the electrical grid with fusion-generated electricity. |
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| The larger a polywell reactor is built, the more power it can theoretically produce. However, instead of using a few huge power plants, most colonies have smaller reactors, often in the 150 to 250 megawatt range, forming a more decentralized electrical grid. | The larger a polywell reactor is built, the more power it can theoretically produce. However, instead of using a few huge power plants, most colonies have smaller reactors, often in the 150 to 250 megawatt range, forming a more decentralized electrical grid. |
