On March 4, our class ventured over to MIT’s plasma reactor lab in Cambridge. A member of its team, grad student Paul Ennever, gave us a presentation and tour on the many facets of plasma and its practical potential for sustainability.
To understand the value of plasma, we must first understand its fundamentals. Plasma’s temperature, or measure of average energy in either Fahrenheit or Celsius, is so high that it requires a different unit of measurement. The electron volt (EV) is equivalent to 11,300 degrees Celsius and 20,400 degrees Fahrenheit. Plasma also comprises 99% of all matter, including the famous Aurora Borealis; this is possible because energy and matter contribute to a phase change whether the atoms are moving to or from the nucleus.
Some other interesting facts Ennever pointed out regard heating plasma. Magnetic Confinement Fusion uses an electric current to channel low resistivity into the ultimate release of high energy, neutral atoms. They are shot with resonant frequency microwaves through the plasma. This method is the one studied at MIT’s lab in hopes of easing its procedure over time.
Plasma’s biggest source of potential for sustainability is found in fusion energy. Fusion is the addition of protons and neutrons to small nuclei to release energy, while fission is the inverse process (removing from large nuclei) to release energy. The origin of these processes comes from the “break-even” point explained by the MIT grad student, which is the nucleus size Iron-56.
The best candidate for successful fusion is “D-T” fusion. This consensus is accredited to its low energy requirement compared to other options, as the nuclear reaction between the two hydrogen isotopes stands at a relatively efficient 15,000 Kev.
Especially when compared to other energy-creation options, fusion shows the greatest potential. Unlike nuclear fission, fusion offers no high level radiation, nuclear waste byproducts, fissile material, or physical possibility of meltdown. Fusion also offers no greenhouse gases or finite fuel supply, something which fossil fuel cannot acclaim itself.
Add in the fact that it can operate independent of weather, efficient of land use, and a base load electricity production and we have ourselves a theoretically bountiful source of energy. The only problem: it is merely theoretical right now. Despite all of these evident advantages to fusion, there are still contemporary drawbacks. Even as we progress, its costs are still significantly high– especially when this process is not yet fully functional. High costs for a proven method are more logistically reasonable when there are concrete results, so we will just have to continue working to invest in research on plasma fusion, the best possible source of a sustainable future society has discovered. Once it is both proven and affordable will society have many issues addressed on the topic of sustainability.
I concur with most of your agreements. With fusion fuel in great abundance it appears to be the only truly long-term, environmentally-friendly solution to meet the world’s bulk energy demands. Although I feel that the absolute gains from a potential seamless fusion process far outweighs the drawbacks of it’s present state.
Great Blog! I agree that fusion fuel appears to be the only long term and presumably safe form of energy. We use energy on a daily basis and finding an alternative to oils and coal would be great.