10. Advantages/disadvantages of fusion reactors

There are many advantages of fusion reactors:


Although fusion does not generate long-lived radioactive products and the unburned gases can be treated on site, there are nevertheless few concerns related to the radioactivity induced by the high-energy neutrons (14 MeV) that are produced during the d-t reaction. They are:

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 accidentally released in the air or water, tritium will remain radioactive for a period equal to at least 10 half-lives or 120 years.

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

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

Department of Physics and Engineering Physics, Fordham University, Bronx,

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\*Address all correspondence to: haider@fordham.edu

provided the original work is properly cited.

unrelenting climb of the temperature of our planet.

Nuclear Fusion: Holy Grail of Energy

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.82335

2100.

Author details

Quamrul Haider

New York, USA

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