Nuclear Fusion Startup
gizmodo.com
gizmodo.com
"General Fusion's basic approach isn't entirely new. It builds on work done during the 1980s by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, based on a concept called Linus."
On a more serious note, I wonder how they will deal with metal fatigue on the sphere being rammed by the pistons once every second. Not all of the energy of those compressions will be transferred into the fluid, that sounds like the reactor core might become a wear item.
Another question regarding this:
"likely because the technology to precisely control the speed and simultaneous triggering of the compressed-air pistons simply didn't exist two decades ago."
What is so critical about controlling compressed air pistons ? They move at a snails pace relative to electronics from the 70's, why is it that only now this would be possible based on controlling essentially very slow devices once-per-second ?
And wouldn't it be easier to do this using electromagnets attached to the outer shell at strategic spots ? much faster response time and higher frequencies possible, also much easier to synchronize than 220 pneumatic hammers striking a sphere. Is there really no other way to get the required wave pattern ?
What will happen to the fusion energy if one of the hammers would fail due to a seizure or seal failure of a single pneumatic ram (this is not a theoretical failure, it happens).
Michio Kaku described in 'Parallel Universes' the concept of 5 civilization stages (with respect to energy harnessing) and the concept that if we get past the next 50 to 100 years, well ...we might have an easier time of things.
Those who are willing to look under every stone get my well wishings.
It's off topic, but do you know some of this groups? And what don't you think that freedom in such fields can jeopardise large population?
If anything goes even the tiniest bit wrong with a fusion reactor, it simply stops. That's why it's so difficult to make one.
The only danger here is to their investor's money... But I wish them luck!