Nuclear Fusion: Holy Grail of Energy DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82335

1. Some radioactive wastes will be produced due to neutron activation of lithium to produce tritium inside the reactor, but their inventory will be much less than those from fission, and they will be short-lived. Nonetheless, if

Nuclear Fusion - One Noble Goal and a Variety of Scientific and Technological Challenges

accidentally released in the air or water, tritium will remain radioactive for a

2. The neutrons will irradiate the surrounding structures giving rise to radioactive nuclides, which ultimately have to be disposed of in some waste facility. But their stock will be considerably lower than that from actinides used in fission-

3. Since most of the energy in the d-t reaction is carried away by the neutrons, this could lead to neutron leakage that could be significantly higher than uranium reactors. More neutron leakage means more shielding and improved

A fascinating application for the abundant energy that fusion may provide is the

fusion torch, a star-hot flame or high-temperature plasma into which all waste materials—whether liquid sewage or solid industrial refuse—could be dumped [28]. In the high-temperature environment, the materials would be reduced to their constituent atoms and separated by a mass-spectrograph-type device into various bins ranging from hydrogen to uranium. Thus, a single fusion plant could, in principle, not only dispose of thousands of tons of solid wastes per day but also convert them into a few reusable and saleable elements, thereby closing the cycle

Projection for the demand of energy depends on the growth of population, because the more people there is, the more energy will be used. The current world population of 7 billion is expected to reach 11 billion in 2100. This means if we want to maintain a better or at least the same standard of living, global consumption of

With the incorporation of improved safety features and new generation of reactors, nuclear fission will probably continue to make a major contribution to electricity generation. However, its growth could be curtailed by issues of public and political acceptability. Supplies from some renewable sources of energy, such as solar or wind, are not guaranteed either, because they are reliant on weather conditions. Technological challenges for other sources, ocean thermal energy and hydrokinetic energy from rivers, for example, have not yet been fully developed.

Advocates acknowledge that fusion technology is likely many decades away. The reason, these systems are intrinsically large, so large that we cannot test the physics and technology of fusion on a lab bench and then mass-produce fusion reactors. Consequently, these large, first-of-a-kind facilities take time to construct.

Despite the enormity of the projects, we have succeeded in creating a short-lived artificial Sun on Earth via experimental fusion reactors. Once commercial fusion reactors become a reality, there will be a paradigm-shifting development in the global energy mix. In particular, our dependence on the rapidly depleting supply of

energy could double, or perhaps triple, by the end of this century.

So, for future energy security, the answer is nuclear fusion.

period equal to at least 10 half-lives or 120 years.

protection for workers at the power plant.

based reactors.

11. Fusion torch

from use to reuse.

12. Conclusion

16

fossil fuels and uranium will be drastically reduced. More importantly, fusion power can easily secure our planets future, given the abundance of fuels and nearlimitless energy produced from fusion reactions. Additionally, with no risk for proliferation and minimum radioactive waste generated, nuclear fusion would offer a clean, relatively safe, zero greenhouse gas-emitting, and long-term source of energy, with the potential to produce at least 20–25% of the world's electricity by 2100.

To conclude, nuclear fusion energy may not have the magic wand that would solve our energy problem. Nevertheless, it has the potential to be an attractive energy source that can be deployed as major pressures rise on existing energy supply options. Also, it would go a long way in slowing down, if not mitigating, the unrelenting climb of the temperature of our planet.
