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-   -   Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record (https://www.cableforum.uk/board/showthread.php?t=33710816)

1andrew1 09-02-2022 13:17
Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
Some interesting and positive news
Quote:
European scientists say they have made a major breakthrough in their quest to develop practical nuclear fusion - the energy process that powers the stars.

The UK-based JET laboratory has smashed its own world record for the amount of energy it can extract by squeezing together two forms of hydrogen.

The experiments produced 59 megajoules of energy over five seconds (11 megawatts of power).

This is more than double what was achieved in similar tests back in 1997.

It's not a massive energy output - only enough to boil about 60 kettles' worth of water. But the significance is that it validates design choices that have been made for an even bigger fusion reactor now being constructed in France.

"The JET experiments put us a step closer to fusion power," said Dr Joe Milnes, the head of operations at the reactor lab. "We've demonstrated that we can create a mini star inside of our machine and hold it there for five seconds and get high performance, which really takes us into a new realm."
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-60312633
Also https://news.sky.com/story/uk-scient...-away-12536956

Carth 09-02-2022 14:48
Re: Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
I can go chop a few tree branches and start a fire that will boil 60 kettles of water . . . and keep my feet warm too . . at considerably less cost.


The more trees I chop down, the more kettles I can boil . .. progress ;)

Hugh 09-02-2022 14:49
Re: Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36112917)
I can go chop a few tree branches and start a fire that will boil 60 kettles of water . . . and keep my feet warm too . . at considerably less cost.


The more trees I chop down, the more kettles I can boil . .. progress ;)
Run out of trees - no progress (or heat…). ;)

Carth 09-02-2022 14:59
Re: Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hugh (Post 36112918)
Run out of trees - no progress (or heat…). ;)
Depends how many trees there are, and how many are using them to boil kettles ;)

Hugh 09-02-2022 15:15
Re: Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36112919)
Depends how many trees there are, and how many are using them to boil kettles ;)
Not really - trees are a finite resource (like oil and gas) whilst fusion fuel can be nearly inexhaustible.

Buggy whips aren’t a major industry anymore, either… ;)

Pierre 09-02-2022 15:58
Re: Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carth (Post 36112917)
I can go chop a few tree branches and start a fire that will boil 60 kettles of water . . . and keep my feet warm too . . at considerably less cost.


The more trees I chop down, the more kettles I can boil . .. progress ;)
it's a bit misleading. 11MW is actually a lot of power, it's the 5 seconds bit that's the problem.

a wind turbine producing 15MW of power can power 13,000 homes.

cheekyangus 09-02-2022 16:23
Re: Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pierre (Post 36112925)
it's a bit misleading. 11MW is actually a lot of power, it's the 5 seconds bit that's the problem.

a wind turbine producing 15MW of power can power 13,000 homes.
That's what I was thinking when I read it.

---------- Post added at 15:23 ---------- Previous post was at 15:05 ----------

Apparently it's equivalent of 4 x On-Shore wind turbines.
And they only stopped because the equipment overheated, not because the reaction was unstable.
Source: thread https://twitter.com/arthurturrell/st...03964583415808

Carth 09-02-2022 16:43
Re: Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheekyangus (Post 36112929)
And they only stopped because the equipment overheated, not because the reaction was unstable.
tsk tsk, obviously using a couple of 80mm fans instead of going the water cooling route . . . which may also boil an extra 2 kettles :D

Paul 09-02-2022 19:45
Re: Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pierre (Post 36112925)
it's a bit misleading. 11MW is actually a lot of power, it's the 5 seconds bit that's the problem.

a wind turbine producing 15MW of power can power 13,000 homes.
You also have to convert the fusion "power" into actual electricity, it doesnt come ready made.

Chris 09-02-2022 20:11
Re: Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
Any electricity generation based on generating heat is ultimately going to end up driving a steam turbine.

idi banashapan 11-02-2022 20:22
Re: Oxford's JET lab smashes nuclear fusion energy output record
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris (Post 36112972)
Any electricity generation based on generating heat is ultimately going to end up driving a steam turbine.
A thermoelectric generator doesn't work like that. Whilst it may not be a mainstream way of genetating electricity right now, my point is more that it doesn't drive a steam turbine.


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