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Not sure what to think

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
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  • J Offline
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    Jim Crafton
    wrote on last edited by
    #1

    Is this guy[^] brilliant or just a Darwin candidate in waiting? On the on handing, building a small fusion reactor has a serious cool factor, as well as bonus man points. On the other, doing this in Brooklyn, where a lot of people live, maybe not the best idea.

    ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

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    • J Jim Crafton

      Is this guy[^] brilliant or just a Darwin candidate in waiting? On the on handing, building a small fusion reactor has a serious cool factor, as well as bonus man points. On the other, doing this in Brooklyn, where a lot of people live, maybe not the best idea.

      ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

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      Dalek Dave
      wrote on last edited by
      #2

      Why not, it is is perfectly safe. Should it break, fusion ceases immediately and other than a tiny amount of potentially dangerous tritium, it would be so dissipated as to be under the danger level. There is no chance of an explosion with fusion, unlike fission which effectively is a very slow explosion.

      ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave

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      • D Dalek Dave

        Why not, it is is perfectly safe. Should it break, fusion ceases immediately and other than a tiny amount of potentially dangerous tritium, it would be so dissipated as to be under the danger level. There is no chance of an explosion with fusion, unlike fission which effectively is a very slow explosion.

        ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave

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        Jim Crafton
        wrote on last edited by
        #3

        Right but with some forms of fusion don't you need a boat load of energy to at least initiate the fusion? So the concern would be some sort of accident with the initial power source. Granted I don't really pretend to understand what this guy is claiming either so who knows.

        ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

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        • J Jim Crafton

          Is this guy[^] brilliant or just a Darwin candidate in waiting? On the on handing, building a small fusion reactor has a serious cool factor, as well as bonus man points. On the other, doing this in Brooklyn, where a lot of people live, maybe not the best idea.

          ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

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          John M Drescher
          wrote on last edited by
          #4

          Well at least its fusion not fission.

          John

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          • J Jim Crafton

            Right but with some forms of fusion don't you need a boat load of energy to at least initiate the fusion? So the concern would be some sort of accident with the initial power source. Granted I don't really pretend to understand what this guy is claiming either so who knows.

            ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

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            Andy Brummer
            wrote on last edited by
            #5

            Jim Crafton wrote:

            Right but with some forms of fusion don't you need a boat load of energy to at least initiate the fusion?

            It depends on the design. In the test tokamak at the university I went to the hydrogen had significantly less energy than a cup of tea. The hard part was getting that much energy concentrated into such a small sample of matter and then keeping it contained. That design required a lot of energy in the magnetic fields used to try to contain the hydrogen however. I've got no idea about the device that your neighbor built.

            I can imagine the sinking feeling one would have after ordering my book, only to find a laughably ridiculous theory with demented logic once the book arrives - Mark McCutcheon

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            • J Jim Crafton

              Right but with some forms of fusion don't you need a boat load of energy to at least initiate the fusion? So the concern would be some sort of accident with the initial power source. Granted I don't really pretend to understand what this guy is claiming either so who knows.

              ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

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              Dalek Dave
              wrote on last edited by
              #6

              The most common form is laser impetives, you have lots of powerful lasers focused on a single spot, but these only fire for a millisecond and are powered by capacitors, so there is no danger there. They fire onto a hydrogen fuel pellet. There are several projects, the biggest and most advanced currently is the JET in Oxfordshire in UK. The Russians attempted fusion using Tokamaks[^] and this is probably the way forward. The main problem with fusion is beating the Z Pinch, but once that is solved, it will be endless cheap electricity forever. (Well, given the amount of deuterium in the seas it is a limited resource, and this means it will run out in about 150 billion years).

              ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave

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              • J Jim Crafton

                Right but with some forms of fusion don't you need a boat load of energy to at least initiate the fusion? So the concern would be some sort of accident with the initial power source. Granted I don't really pretend to understand what this guy is claiming either so who knows.

                ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

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                Chris Losinger
                wrote on last edited by
                #7

                Jim Crafton wrote:

                Right but with some forms of fusion don't you need a boat load of energy to at least initiate the fusion?

                no, that's funk. funk requires a lot of energy to get going, but once it does, anyone in the vicinity will be stimulated into releasing energy of their own. fusion (especially "jazz fusion" which takes the technicality of jazz and the volume from rock, combined with the noodling navel-gazing of prog), is just boring. it's like watching writers practice their typing skills.

                image processing toolkits | batch image processing

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                • C Chris Losinger

                  Jim Crafton wrote:

                  Right but with some forms of fusion don't you need a boat load of energy to at least initiate the fusion?

                  no, that's funk. funk requires a lot of energy to get going, but once it does, anyone in the vicinity will be stimulated into releasing energy of their own. fusion (especially "jazz fusion" which takes the technicality of jazz and the volume from rock, combined with the noodling navel-gazing of prog), is just boring. it's like watching writers practice their typing skills.

                  image processing toolkits | batch image processing

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                  Jim Crafton
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #8

                  Then I need to get me some funk. right away!

                  ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

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                  • J Jim Crafton

                    Then I need to get me some funk. right away!

                    ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

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                    Dalek Dave
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #9

                    It's in the Garage.

                    ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • J Jim Crafton

                      Is this guy[^] brilliant or just a Darwin candidate in waiting? On the on handing, building a small fusion reactor has a serious cool factor, as well as bonus man points. On the other, doing this in Brooklyn, where a lot of people live, maybe not the best idea.

                      ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

                      L Offline
                      L Offline
                      Lost User
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #10

                      A small reaction is common but has he looked at the engineering required to scale up? Interesting though.

                      Join the cool kids - Come fold with us[^]

                      E 1 Reply Last reply
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                      • J Jim Crafton

                        Right but with some forms of fusion don't you need a boat load of energy to at least initiate the fusion? So the concern would be some sort of accident with the initial power source. Granted I don't really pretend to understand what this guy is claiming either so who knows.

                        ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

                        E Offline
                        E Offline
                        El Corazon
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #11

                        Jim Crafton wrote:

                        Right but with some forms of fusion don't you need a boat load of energy to at least initiate the fusion? So the concern would be some sort of accident with the initial power source.

                        So as long as the power source is say... the same as a utility power you are fine? Most of these systems merely take electricity. Whether powering lasers or other systems, you are simply powering the equipment. One of my friends in high school build a miniature nuclear accelerator, now that is a little more difficult, and a little more dangerous.... fusion? naw... about the only danger is drawing a little too much electricity than you can pay for. As long as he is paying his bills let him tinker. :) Most people don't know the difference between fission and fusion, or they think of fusion only as hydrogen to hydrogen fusion which does require lots of energy. What most of these guys are doing is trying to find fuel sources, usually hydrogen and some other element, that requires less energy to fuse, but still get enough energy out to make it effective. You aren't likely to get any extremely violent bursts of energy without getting a direct feed from Palo Verde, and I am not letting him touch mine. ;P In most cases these guys are dealing with the hope of getting say 10% more energy than they put in.... so put in a kilowatt and get out 1.1 kilowatt. And that is still only hope.

                        _________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....

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                        • E El Corazon

                          Jim Crafton wrote:

                          Right but with some forms of fusion don't you need a boat load of energy to at least initiate the fusion? So the concern would be some sort of accident with the initial power source.

                          So as long as the power source is say... the same as a utility power you are fine? Most of these systems merely take electricity. Whether powering lasers or other systems, you are simply powering the equipment. One of my friends in high school build a miniature nuclear accelerator, now that is a little more difficult, and a little more dangerous.... fusion? naw... about the only danger is drawing a little too much electricity than you can pay for. As long as he is paying his bills let him tinker. :) Most people don't know the difference between fission and fusion, or they think of fusion only as hydrogen to hydrogen fusion which does require lots of energy. What most of these guys are doing is trying to find fuel sources, usually hydrogen and some other element, that requires less energy to fuse, but still get enough energy out to make it effective. You aren't likely to get any extremely violent bursts of energy without getting a direct feed from Palo Verde, and I am not letting him touch mine. ;P In most cases these guys are dealing with the hope of getting say 10% more energy than they put in.... so put in a kilowatt and get out 1.1 kilowatt. And that is still only hope.

                          _________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....

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                          Dalek Dave
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #12

                          Anything over Q1 is good, although given the energy requirements for ancillary equipment, and large scale distribution and allowing for voltage drop, Q4 is the goal for a fusion reaction.

                          ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave

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                          • L Lost User

                            A small reaction is common but has he looked at the engineering required to scale up? Interesting though.

                            Join the cool kids - Come fold with us[^]

                            E Offline
                            E Offline
                            El Corazon
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #13

                            Trollslayer wrote:

                            A small reaction is common but has he looked at the engineering required to scale up? Interesting though.

                            Most have. As mentioned in the article there are many tiny one or two man shops trying to find the holy grail of fusion. Since the big attempts at large scale systems have all been on hydrogen to hydrogen which requires so much energy in to get started, most of these small shops have focused on finding alternative fusion fuels that require less energy input but still get energy out. If you start looking at the chart of elements as a many to many relationship.... they have lots of combinations to try.

                            _________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....

                            L 1 Reply Last reply
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                            • D Dalek Dave

                              Anything over Q1 is good, although given the energy requirements for ancillary equipment, and large scale distribution and allowing for voltage drop, Q4 is the goal for a fusion reaction.

                              ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave

                              E Offline
                              E Offline
                              El Corazon
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #14

                              Dalek Dave wrote:

                              Anything over Q1 is good, although given the energy requirements for ancillary equipment, and large scale distribution and allowing for voltage drop, Q4 is the goal for a fusion reaction.

                              Right which is why all the large scale groups are focusing on the large scale production of hydrogen/hydrogen fusion. It has the most hope for gain. these small timers are trying to find the penny ante stuff at the bottom end, they aren't focused the same as the big efforts.

                              _________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....

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                              • E El Corazon

                                Dalek Dave wrote:

                                Anything over Q1 is good, although given the energy requirements for ancillary equipment, and large scale distribution and allowing for voltage drop, Q4 is the goal for a fusion reaction.

                                Right which is why all the large scale groups are focusing on the large scale production of hydrogen/hydrogen fusion. It has the most hope for gain. these small timers are trying to find the penny ante stuff at the bottom end, they aren't focused the same as the big efforts.

                                _________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....

                                D Offline
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                                Dalek Dave
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #15

                                Indeed, and it is the many little steps of the micro generators that will make up the leaps of the industrial scale reactors.

                                ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave

                                E 1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • J Jim Crafton

                                  Is this guy[^] brilliant or just a Darwin candidate in waiting? On the on handing, building a small fusion reactor has a serious cool factor, as well as bonus man points. On the other, doing this in Brooklyn, where a lot of people live, maybe not the best idea.

                                  ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! Personal 3D projects Just Say No to Web 2 Point Blow

                                  D Offline
                                  D Offline
                                  Douglas Troy
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #16

                                  I've done this experiment with nothing more than a bottle of Coke Cola. You just shake it up real good, pop the top and *WHOOSH!* fusion all over the place. :rolleyes:


                                  :..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
                                  Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTL

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                                  • D Douglas Troy

                                    I've done this experiment with nothing more than a bottle of Coke Cola. You just shake it up real good, pop the top and *WHOOSH!* fusion all over the place. :rolleyes:


                                    :..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
                                    Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTL

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                                    Dalek Dave
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #17

                                    Surely that is a Fizzon reaction?

                                    ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • E El Corazon

                                      Trollslayer wrote:

                                      A small reaction is common but has he looked at the engineering required to scale up? Interesting though.

                                      Most have. As mentioned in the article there are many tiny one or two man shops trying to find the holy grail of fusion. Since the big attempts at large scale systems have all been on hydrogen to hydrogen which requires so much energy in to get started, most of these small shops have focused on finding alternative fusion fuels that require less energy input but still get energy out. If you start looking at the chart of elements as a many to many relationship.... they have lots of combinations to try.

                                      _________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....

                                      L Offline
                                      L Offline
                                      Lost User
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #18

                                      All we need is plenty of helium III - a trip to the Moon anyone?

                                      Join the cool kids - Come fold with us[^]

                                      D 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • D Douglas Troy

                                        I've done this experiment with nothing more than a bottle of Coke Cola. You just shake it up real good, pop the top and *WHOOSH!* fusion all over the place. :rolleyes:


                                        :..::. Douglas H. Troy ::..
                                        Bad Astronomy |VCF|wxWidgets|WTL

                                        E Offline
                                        E Offline
                                        El Corazon
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #19

                                        Douglas Troy wrote:

                                        You just shake it up real good, pop the top and *WHOOSH!* fusion all over the place.

                                        It is much better with Mentos[^]!

                                        _________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....

                                        D 1 Reply Last reply
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                                        • D Dalek Dave

                                          Indeed, and it is the many little steps of the micro generators that will make up the leaps of the industrial scale reactors.

                                          ------------------------------------ I will never again mention that I was the poster of the One Millionth Lounge Post, nor that it was complete drivel. Dalek Dave

                                          E Offline
                                          E Offline
                                          El Corazon
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #20

                                          Dalek Dave wrote:

                                          Indeed, and it is the many little steps of the micro generators that will make up the leaps of the industrial scale reactors.

                                          That is one reason that I prefer to let these guys work on their stuff. You never know what they might find too. It is entirely possible you could build up through the micro fusion reactors to power the big guys. Or they might stumble across a really nice combination of fuels. As long as they don't use large quantities of flammables and expect them not to be ... energetic... when applied with a heating laser... :)

                                          _________________________ John Andrew Holmes "It is well to remember that the entire universe, with one trifling exception, is composed of others." Shhhhh.... I am not really here. I am a figment of your imagination.... I am still in my cave so this must be an illusion....

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