Helion Energy » Fusion

Helion Energy » Fusion: "Fundamental Scaling: Size = Cost

The main challenge facing current nuclear fusion concepts is the complexity and large physical scale associated with the plasma confinement and heating systems. Essentially, the more massive the system required to confine and heat the fusion plasma, the higher the cost to develop and operate. The high cost of the current fusion research (and ultimately the reactors) is primarily due to the energy density of the fusion physics. The tokamak operates at low density and long timescales necessitating a large volume to provide suitable energy for a reactor. At the other end of the spectrum, a great effort has also been spent in achieving fusion at extreme energy densities. Here, minute fuel pellets are compressed to fusion conditions by a huge array of high power lasers.

There is a relatively unexplored region in reactor size and plasma energy density that lies between these two extremes to produce fusion that could simplify and accelerate development. The Fusion Engine aims to provide a new paradigm that will provide a practical and cost-effective source of carbon-free electricity."

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