Comment Re:why fusion will change the world (Score 1) 443
Actually, the total stored energy of large reactors like JET (or the proposed ITER) is quite large. Extremely large currents (~10 MegaAmps) flow through these devices. Uncontrolled shutdowns ('disruptions') are the rule rather than the exception in fusion relevant tokamak plasmas. Some of these have been violent enough to lift the entire device (many tons) ten centimetres into the air.
Needless to say, this is a bit impractical for a power plant.
One of the academics here used to like to compare the stored energy of a (power plant scale) Tokamak to the kinetic energy of a fully laden 747.
I haven't heard him use that analogy recently.
There are significant issues associated with large scale instabilities which still need to be addressed, It is important that people realise that, as with any technology, there is an inherent level of risk.
Some people push fusion as the silver bullet to all our problems, but realism is important.
Needless to say, this is a bit impractical for a power plant.
One of the academics here used to like to compare the stored energy of a (power plant scale) Tokamak to the kinetic energy of a fully laden 747.
I haven't heard him use that analogy recently.
There are significant issues associated with large scale instabilities which still need to be addressed, It is important that people realise that, as with any technology, there is an inherent level of risk.
Some people push fusion as the silver bullet to all our problems, but realism is important.
