Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to lunar source of He-3

Beyond 2100

Hi JEKing

Fusion using pure He3 would be an ideal fuel for a magnetohydrodynamic power-cycle as it allows direct conversion of particle energy to electrical. Thus the reactor configuration is more like a jet-turbine powered generator - the core exhausts plasma that is tapped for energy, cooled and exhausted.

It's not a tokamak fuel though because tokamaks extracts energy via the neutrons produced by the D-T reactions - those neutrons are vital to breed the tritium fuel in the lithium jacket and to heat the jacket up for power conversion, else there's no useful energy extraction.

Also there's a related reaction which is a blend of both - D-He3 reactions - but they'rea mixed blessing. Such reactions release a lot of energy and fewer neutrons, but maybe too many for MHD and too few for liquid lithium heat exchangers.

Adam

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