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fangedrandy OP t1_j30gxo7 wrote

Reply to comment by SvenTropics in Helium-3 by fangedrandy

essentially clean energy then right? Doesn't seem like it's too far fetched.

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SvenTropics t1_j30n3qu wrote

Mostly. They've already proven it too. Right now they are building their next generation reactor that will actually produce power. The last version demonstrated the release of energy correctly.

The one step that will have some consequences is creating the helium-3. The problem with smashing two deuterium atoms together is that neutrons can't be constrained by a magnetic field. That reactor will likely need more maintenance as a result. We could try to capture the neutron with some sort of modulator. The problem with beryllium is that it's extremely rare and typically has uranium inside it in low quantities. This uranium accumulating neutrons will create radioactive waste.

The second process can be completely contained with a magnetic field.

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