Monday, October 1, 2012

Q114: CAN YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN THE NUCLEAR FUSION PROCESS?



Hi Lope, can you explain the NUCLEAR FUSION process?

-- EDGAR OLIVA
   Antipolo, Rizal, PHILIPPINES

 NUCLEAR FUSION ENERGY: The HEAVENLY ENERGY SOURCE OF ALL ACTIVITIES ON HEAVEN & EARTH!

Our SUN, which is powered by Nuclear Fusion, is the source of all Physical Life and Energy here on Earth (Psalms 19:4-6).
  • In the Heavens He has pitched a Tent for the Sun.  (Psa 19:4 HCSB)
  • It rises from one end of the Heavens and circles to their other end; nothing is hidden from its heat.  (Psa 19:6 HCSB)
In Nuclear Fusion, two low mass nuclei come into very close contact with each other, so that the strong nuclear force fuses them. Light nuclei can release energy if we stick them together to make bigger nuclei that are closer to the most stable size. Fusing one nucleus with another is called Nuclear Fusion. 

Nuclear Fusion requires a large amount of energy to overcome the repulsion between the nuclei for the strong nuclear force to produce this effect. This fusion requirement necessitates a very high temperature and pressure. Once the process succeeds, a very large amount of energy is released and the combined nucleus assumes a lower energy level.

Fusion reactions produce virtually all elements in a process called nucleosynthesis. Stars like the Sun are powered by the fusion of four protons into a helium nucleus, two positrons, and two neutrinos.

ENERGY GENERATION FROM NUCLEAR FUSION VS NUCLEAR FISSION

Abundant Energy: Fusing atoms together in a controlled way releases nearly four (4) million times more energy than a chemical reaction such as the burning of coal, oil, or gas and four (4) times as much as nuclear fission reactions (at equal mass). Fusion has the potential to provide the kind of baseload energy needed to supply Electric Power to our Cities and Industries.

Sustainability: Fusion fuels are widely available and nearly inexhaustible. Deuterium can be distilled from all forms of water, while Tritium will be produced during the fusion reaction as fusion neutrons interact with Lithium. Land-based reserves of Lithium would permit the operation of Fusion Power Plants for more than 1,000 years. And, the sea-based reserves of Lithium would satisfy needs for millions of years.

Scientists say that nuclear fusion would be a cleaner, safer, more efficient and more abundant source of power than nuclear fission. So, nuclear fusion promises to be a clean, inexhaustible source of energy. Yet, as of this writing, no fusion reactor has been successfully put into commercial use. This is due to the engineering difficulties involved in magnetically containing a plasma (ionized gas) at a sufficiently high temperature and density.

Current nuclear reactors use nuclear fission to generate power. In nuclear fission, you get energy from splitting one atom into two atoms. In a conventional nuclear reactor, high-energy neutrons split heavy atoms of enriched uranium, yielding large amounts of energy, radiation, and radioactive wastes.

The Philippines has its own controversial Nuclear Power Plant (PNPP-1). Presently, Nuclear Power Plants use the FISSION Process in the Power Generation process; so, there is no Smoke and CO2 GreenHouse Gas produced. But, the Nuclear Plant has only 40% Efficiency. The 60% of the Heat Energy from Uranium is released to the Sea and Air, also contributing to Global Warming and Climate Change Disasters.  

The SECRET OF NUCLEAR ENERGY: The FUNDAMENTAL FORCES OF THE UNIVERSE

In nuclear fusion, you get energy when two atoms join together to form one. In a Natural Fusion Reactor, such as, the SUN and STARS hydrogen atoms come together to form helium atoms, neutrons and vast amounts of energy. But how do the protons in the nucleus stick together? 

The STRONG NUCLEAR FORCE holds a nucleus together against the enormous force of the ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCE, of repulsion of the protons. However, it is not an inverse square force like the electromagnetic force and it has a very short range. 

The WEAK NUCLEAR FORCE plays a greater role in things falling apart, or decaying. It is only effective at very short distances. This is the mechanism of interaction between subatomic particles that is responsible for the radioactive decay of atoms. The weak interaction serves an essential role in nuclear fission. The effective range of the weak force is limited to subatomic distances, and is less than the diameter of a proton.

 The GRAVITY FORCE functions at very large Distances, such as, Planets and Stars.  

ELECTROMAGNETIC FORCE : The MAIN CHALLENGE TO THE NUCLEAR FUSION TECHNOLOGY

In spite of the high-tech research and development being done by so many scientists and engineers of advanced countries, the main barrier to overcome in order to tap the nuclear fusion technology for electric power generation is a very basic law of physics that is being taught in elementary schools. This is the common law of magnetism: Opposite poles attract and like poles repel. 

So, the "north" end or pole of one magnet will ATTRACT the "south," end or pole of another magnet. On the other hand, the north end of one magnet will REPEL the north end of the other (and similarly, south will repel south).

Every nucleus of an atom is composed of the positively charge protons, and the neutrons with no charge. Heavy nuclei has the tendency to fly apart because each positive proton is repelled by every other positive proton in the  nucleus.

CURRENT NUCLEAR FUSION TECHNOLOGY RESEARCHES

Current researches are being done at various institutions. For example, the Joint European Torus (JET) and ITER is in the development of a practical use of a fusion reactor to produce energy from a controlled fusion reaction.

I hope that these explanations satisfy your questions. If not, then ask more questions, my friend! 

For an more explanations about this important nuclear energy topic, go to: CAN MAN SAFELY TAP THE NUCLEAR POWER TECHNOLOGY OF THE SUN AND THE STARS? HOW? Tapping Nuclear Fusion is Bringing the Technology of Heaven Down to the Unprepared Earth!

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