The Chemistry Of Fusion Technology

Nuclear energy obtained from thermonuclear fusion of light nuclei is a goal to which an increasing world-wide effort is being committed. The demands on energy reserves and resources are continually increasing as ever more coun tries achieve modern industrial status. All projections agree that conventional means of energy production must be supplemented and indeed supplanted by new methods. Only the date at which the transition becomes imperative is subject to debate. The promise of fusion energy ultimately to pro vide a clean, cheap, dependable and potentially inexhaustible energy source augurs well for the future of the human race. If there were illusions at the start of the quest for controlled thermonuclear power that solutions would be easily found, the past two decades have dlspelled them. Unwarranted optimism has been replaced by a realistic recognition of the immense scientific and technological challenges that arise in bringing about practical fusion energy. Broadly speaking, problems can be put into two categories--those having to do with heating the fuel to thermonuclear temperatures at high enough particle densities and for sufficiently long confine ment times to yield a net power return and those having to do with the actual construction of a power producing fusion reactor.

Nuclear energy obtained from thermonuclear fusion of light nuclei is a goal to which an increasing world-wide effort is being committed. The demands on energy reserves and resources are continually increasing as ever more coun tries achieve modern industrial status. All projections agree that conventional means of energy production must be supplemented and indeed supplanted by new methods. Only the date at which the transition becomes imperative is subject to debate. The promise of fusion energy ultimately to pro vide a clean, cheap, dependable and potentially inexhaustible energy source augurs well for the future of the human race. If there were illusions at the start of the quest for controlled thermonuclear power that solutions would be easily found, the past two decades have dlspelled them. Unwarranted optimism has been replaced by a realistic recognition of the immense scientific and technological challenges that arise in bringing about practical fusion energy. Broadly speaking, problems can be put into two categories--those having to do with heating the fuel to thermonuclear temperatures at high enough particle densities and for sufficiently long confine ment times to yield a net power return and those having to do with the actual construction of a power producing fusion reactor.

Power production and its consumption and distribution are among the most urgent problems of mankind. Despite positive dynamics in introducing renewable sources of energy, nuclear power plants still remain the major source of carbon-free electric energy. Fusion can be an alternative to fission in the foreseeable future. Research in the field of controlled nuclear fusion has been ongoing for almost 100 years. Magnetic confinement systems are the most promising for effective implementation, and the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor is under construction in France. To accomplish nuclear fusion on Earth, we have to resolve a number of scientific and technological problems. This monograph includes selected chapters on nuclear physics and mechanical engineering within the scope of nuclear fusion.

Magnetic Fusion Technology describes the technologies that are required for successful development of nuclear fusion power plants using strong magnetic fields. These technologies include: • magnet systems, • plasma heating systems, • control systems, • energy conversion systems, • advanced materials development, • vacuum systems, • cryogenic systems, • plasma diagnostics, • safety systems, and • power plant design studies. Magnetic Fusion Technology will be useful to students and to specialists working in energy research.

Fusion welding is the main technological process applied in the production of weldments. This title contains representations of physicochemical processes that occur on the borders of contacting phases. It is suitable for practical and scientific specialists in the fields of welding and metallurgy.

Cold Fusion: Advances in Condensed Matter Nuclear Science provides a concise description of the existing technological approaches in cold fusion or low energy nuclear reaction engineering. It handles the chemistry, physics, materials, and various processes involved in cold fusion, and provides a critical analysis of obtained theoretical and experimental results. The book has a very international appeal with the editor from France and an international pool of chapter authors from academia and industry. This book is an indispensable resource for researchers in academia and industry connected with combustion processes and synthesis all over the world. Systemizes the rapidly growing amount of information in cold fusion or low energy nuclear reaction technologies Defines the scientific fundamentals for understanding of cold fusion engineering Provides an overview of the history of the development of cold fusion engineering Written by an international pool of chapter authors