Fusion Fission Hybrids for Green and Plentiful Energy
If the world were forced to shift its energy “burden” from fossils to nuclear, will ”nuclear energy” be ready to assume this role? Can one, for example, envision an economically, environmentally and socially acceptable path that will guarantee plentiful nuclear energy? Could such an enormous transition be engineered in near future? Could we, even, begin to build a nuclear energy dominant future on the foundations of the current and soon to be available competitive industrial technologies?
To earnestly assume this role, “nuclear energy” must, first, demonstrate safe and acceptable technical solutions to two fundamental problems of fission power:
• The problem of nuclear waste: transuranic isotopes that have long-term radio toxicity and biohazard, and
• The problem of limited “naturally fissile (U235)” fuel supply that must be solved by breeding fuel from fertile materials like U238 and Th232
Our recent design of Fusion-Fission Hybrid reactor - a creative combination of fusion and fission - can indeed lay the foundations of a “green “ and plentiful nuclear energy economy on time scales of less than a couple decades. Although nuclear fusion is not ready for direct energy production, our recent invention of the Super-X Divertor can lead to the design of a workable highly compact intense fusion neutron source. In a hybrid driven by such an intense fusion neutron source, several novel fuel cycles that would be inaccessible to pure fission, become available. The resulting vastly enhanced overall nuclear capability can be readily exploited to slay the twin dragon of the “constraining” problems of fission- the problems of nuclear waste and that of limited fuel supply.
In the global energy context, our fusion-fission hybrid adds a new, perhaps, crucial dimension to the quest for a vibrant, green and plentiful energy future.
17 comments
Romi Mahajan • over 10 years ago
We need this in order to have a sustainable future. The energy crisis coupled with clear anthropogenic global warming is having (and will have) vast consequences for humanity...these consequences are frightening. Being able to tap nuclear energy without the attendant risks is key to any successful future.
Parul Shah • over 10 years ago
I absolutely agree with Romi. This reactor will be critical in setting us up for a green future that is not under threat of an energy crisis.
Arun Kumar • over 10 years ago
I would like to see this reactor produced and tested. My feeling is that we will have to rely on fission for large-scale energy production in the near future. It seems to be the most economic method for large-scale energy production, and while not clean, it certainly is cleaner than coal when all the environmental hazards are accounted for.
We need cleaner reactors.
Dhananjay Gurjar • over 10 years ago
I also think we need to develop this promising technology further by investing in a large scale prototype to identify / overcome any potential issues and problems. But if it works and can be deployed on a large scale, it can make a radical difference to the planet & everyone.
Thomas Wilmore • over 10 years ago
I think the part that is best for me is that it uses the weapons grade waste to generate energy, and leaves only low grade waste with a short half-life, on the order of 100 years.
I also like very much that you get much more energy from the same amount of nuclear fuel.
Francois Waelbroeck • over 10 years ago
It's uplifting to see all the great ideas in this competition, but the super-X divertor is in a class of its own. Nothing comes close to climate change when it comes to threatening deep misery on a large scale. Anyone who looks at the effects of the current recession has to conclude that avoiding climate change by curbing growth would be immensely painful for the most vulnerable. The Super-X enabled fusion-fission hybrid is the only patent in this competition to offer a credible path to a better future.
Ravindra Kumar g • over 10 years ago
The most pressing global problems facing us today are energy and environment. Our future depends on how we can solve our problems in a creative and progressive manner.
As a physicist, I am deeply aware of the advantages , disadvantages, possibilities, limitations and challenges of fission and fusion. The fusion-fission hybrid reactor proposed here holds great promise and could revolutionize our future giving us energy security and environmental safety. I hope this idea is taken forward enthusiastically- G. Ravindra Kumar
Robert Ivey • over 10 years ago
The fusion-fission hybrid is potentially a game changing tool in the quest for abundant, clean, dense, and safer energy. Green energy that is dense requires high energy content fuel such as nuclear and a safe, clean operational and disposal methodology for the left over waste. This patent could provide a significant boost to the well being of mankind by opening the door to a more powerful, safer, and cleaner future. This is an idea whose time is now. Count this ex-physics professor and business person as an enthusiastic supporter. That it could also serve as a breeder turning fertile material into fissile fuel is a bonus as well.
Hamid Saleem • over 10 years ago
The mankind needs energy to maintain the present life style of advanced nations and to progress further. Energy is also needed to raise the living standard of less privileged people of developing and poor countries. The nuclear energy is being used to overcome the shortage of energy produced by fossils. The energy production by both fossils and fission is creating lot of pollution and the planet Earth is becoming dirty because of human beings. There are some options to use cleaner energy resources like the wind energy, solar energy etc. But the main problem is to find out a cleaner source of energy for large scale energy production to supply electricity to cities and industries. For this purpose one can not ignore the use of nuclear energy. We have to develop technical and scientific methods to use fission and fusion processes of energy generation in a much more useful and environment friendly manner.
The proposed fusion-fission hybrid reactors can be very useful to generate energy requirements for the future generations. It is good idea that the fertile material becomes fissile fuel and at the same time the nuclear waste is used in a beneficial way. Keeping these things in view, I appreciate the efforts of the scientists involved in this new research. The Governments should pay attention to this idea for future.
Felipe Asenjo • over 10 years ago
Ideas like this one must be widely recognized and disseminated. This is a major step in the direction of a more green-friendly system for energy production. I think that with this technology, our energy problem may be closer to be solved.
Arun Veeramani • over 10 years ago
This would be a great innovation that would solve some of the toughest challenges that we have been facing:
1. Energy
2. "Clean green" energy
3. Tackle nuclear waste from fission
Scientists have with these type of ideas have to be encouraged and be actively supported. Would it not be great to "make the cake and eat it too"?
Zensho Yoshida • over 10 years ago
What can physicists contribute to the urgent problems of environment and energy resources? In their innovation of fusion-fission hybrid energy plant, the Texas team was able to show a clear-cut solution by assembling most advanced, but reliable pieces of scientific knowledge. It is not a dream of unlimited ideal energy; by rational thinking of solving the problem, a reasonable, fast-track application of fusion reaction is proposed. I believe that this proposal will open a new direction of approach toward radical issues of contemporary society.
Nana Shatashvili • over 10 years ago
I believe that the proposal of IFS team from UT (Austin), based on their systematic advanced scientific investigation, is a significant step forward towards the solution of urgent problems of Mankind, it will help modern society to produce energy securely ensuring environmental safety and promising the better and sustainable future. Hope that this proposal finds proper attention and further development.
Christoph Wimmer • over 10 years ago
Every country with nuclear reactors is struggeling with the nuclear waste. This looks like a viable solution and would help with the limited natural supply of fissel fuels. This will be another step into the right direction to make nuclear power safer and usable as an energy source.
Amala Shahane • over 10 years ago
The worldwide problems like global warming, nuclear waste etc this seems like a viable solution.
Arup Mazumdar • over 10 years ago
I am not aware of the intricacies of nuclear power generation; however I do believe that nuclear energy will play an important role for meeting the energy needs of ours and future generations.
Should the proposed methodology result in the development of a safe and clean means to generate nuclear power or put us on the path towards the same, it will rightly be recognized as a significant stepping stone to meeting human needs. All the very best to those involved on this project.
Ryszard Miklaszewski • about 10 years ago
As a horizon for the clean fusion energy escapes all the time the fusion-fission seems to be the only reasonable solution, at least for an intermediate period of 50-70 years. The project is based on realistic assumptions, majority of the necessary technologies are available - so, time to start - it may improve our world