Wouldn’t it be cheaper and more feasible to build and try experimental reactors 10x smaller for research and development purposes and _then_ built the proper size when they are proven to be efficient?
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That’s what we are doing. Fission reactors started relatively small to test things before larger power plants were built. All current fusion reactors are too small for a power plant, they are used to test the concepts.
Smaller reactors don’t work exactly like larger reactors, however. Many processes depend on the ratio of surface area (e.g. energy losses to the outside) to volume (e.g. heat production), some components cannot easily change their size, and so on. Current fusion reactors are not large enough to release more energy from fusion than we put in for heating, they are simply too small for that. That makes some aspects very difficult to test. ITER, currently under construction, is needed to run a reactor that actually produces a lot of fusion.
That’s what we are doing. Fission reactors started relatively small to test things before larger power plants were built. All current fusion reactors are too small for a power plant, they are used to test the concepts.
Smaller reactors don’t work exactly like larger reactors, however. Many processes depend on the ratio of surface area (e.g. energy losses to the outside) to volume (e.g. heat production), some components cannot easily change their size, and so on. Current fusion reactors are not large enough to release more energy from fusion than we put in for heating, they are simply too small for that. That makes some aspects very difficult to test. ITER, currently under construction, is needed to run a reactor that actually produces a lot of fusion.
Many many small fusion reactors have been used to study fusion. None of them come anywhere near breakeven (where it gives back more energy than it cost to start), which is what they need for power generation. Fusion is a process which becomes more efficient as it gets larger, so if our goal is breakeven we have to go big.
Many many small fusion reactors have been used to study fusion. None of them come anywhere near breakeven (where it gives back more energy than it cost to start), which is what they need for power generation. Fusion is a process which becomes more efficient as it gets larger, so if our goal is breakeven we have to go big.
Many many small fusion reactors have been used to study fusion. None of them come anywhere near breakeven (where it gives back more energy than it cost to start), which is what they need for power generation. Fusion is a process which becomes more efficient as it gets larger, so if our goal is breakeven we have to go big.
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