How far away are we from portable nuclear power?

[Jadzia]

I guess those things demonstrate how millions of kelvins is possible in small amateur projects.

But those things don't have net power output. They're experiments, rather than prototypes of fusion generators.

 

[Unicron]

There’s a nuclear-powered car in your future!

This makes me chuckle because in the Marvel run of Transformers, a power source called nucleon was introduced late that could grant powerful benefits (at least temporarily) but would also cause a variety of unstable side effects, and seemed to work differently on every being that used it. Makes me wonder how well the car would run.

 

[sojourner]

I guess those things demonstrate how millions of kelvins is possible in small amateur projects.

But those things don't have net power output. They're experiments, rather than prototypes of fusion generators.

The same could be said for every fusion reactor right now.

 

[Jadzia]

I agree, which is why I said above that it's still a dream that 's being chased.

 

[chardman]

I'd heard that Toshiba had perfected and was planing on manufacturing and marketing a solid state reactor of some kind. I think it may be similar to the RTGs Mr.B brought up. Supposedly the Toshiba design is very safe, and virtually impossible to weaponize the contents. Anyone else know anything about this?

 

[sojourner]

I found this:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiba_4S
hmmm, small enough to be home-sized, but still fission, not a great combination. Would be good for small communities though.

 

[KJbushway]

So still no fusion. sad that the dream hasn't been accomplished yet.

 

[sojourner]

The old joke in the fusion community is that "it's only 20 years away". They have been saying that since the 1940's.

 

[KJbushway]

I thought it was earlier than that. I though that fusion expirements in the uk date back to the 1920's.

 

[Jadzia]

I've often wondered if fusion would happen with linear acceleration across an electric field. The fusion barrier for two protons is about 10keV. Their charge is e. So by moving hydrogen ions through 10kV there may be some fusion. 10kV is not very high really ~ palm sized stun-guns can produce more than that.

 

[KJbushway]

I am interested in hearing more of this proposal. I always look at the sun when I think about making a fusion generator.

here's what I get:

Sphere with huge gravitational pull, strong magnetic field due the size itself, and the materials used. the pure hyrdogen, reaction made helium, and the Iron core which helps keep particles inside the side when fusion is taking place.

 

[Quantum_Penguin]

There’s a nuclear-powered car in your future!

Was the Nucleon supposed to be powered by an actual, critical reactor? Or was it supposed to have a sub-critical battery of some sort?

 

[Jadzia]

huge gravitational pull

This is the main thing. As the star shrinks as it forms, it is squeezed, generating heat. The heat and pressure combined enables the hydrogen to start fusing.

strong magnetic field due the size itself

I don't think this is important for fusion.

the Iron core

Iron isn't thought to be essential; it's a byproduct of fusion.

 

[sojourner]

Was the Nucleon supposed to be powered by an actual, critical reactor? Or was it supposed to have a sub-critical battery of some sort?

Gas turbine I think? Like an M1 Abrams tank.

 

[KJbushway]

huge gravitational pull

This is the main thing. As the star shrinks as it forms, it is squeezed, generating heat. The heat and pressure combined enables the hydrogen to start fusing.

strong magnetic field due the size itself

I don't think this is important for fusion.

the Iron core

Iron isn't thought to be essential; it's a byproduct of fusion.

So basically all we need is something that can produce huge gravitational pull. The magnetic field I believe, keeps those particles from escaping and canceling ignition.
the iron core is just and observation, its what enables the sun to have a mass and produce gravity I believe.

 

[Quantum_Penguin]

Was the Nucleon supposed to be powered by an actual, critical reactor? Or was it supposed to have a sub-critical battery of some sort?

Gas turbine I think? Like an M1 Abrams tank.

Ah, thank you. So if I've got this right, the reactor just heats the fluid and then that does work on the turbine?

 

[sojourner]

Edit: nevermind, a little googling has revealed that the concept was an idea for an actual nuclear fission powered car. Thank Ghu it was only a concept.