Case for Nuclear Fusion

806 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Advantages and disadvantages of nuclear fusion use

The Case for Nuclear Fusion As of now, 80% of global energy is provided by fossil fuels. Wind and solar energy sources are unlikely to completely replace fossil fuels in the coming decades due to infrastructure problems. A drop in global energy provided by oil starting sometime between 2012 and 2014 (Chris) is also expected. As a result of these circumstances more research must be done in other forms of energy generation in order to keep with energy demand as countries industrialize and populations grow. Despite claims that nuclear fusion will not be practically realized, research into nuclear fusion should be increased as it is not harmful to the environment, has nearly limitless fuel, and is inherently safe. Fusion power produces no greenhouse gasses and no long-lived radioactive products, making it a very clean energy source. According to the article “Safety and Environment,” “Fusion power does not produce any greenhouse gasses (GHGs) or other atmospheric pollutants during operation.” It has become an increasing desire for things, such as cars and companies, to become environmentally friendly or “green.” The fact that fusion power would generate no greenhouse gasses inherently is a big plus. Furthermore, according to the same article, “SEAFP concluded that fusion has very good inherent safety qualities, among which... no production of long-lived, highly radiotoxic products.” The radiotoxic products produced by nuclear fission pose a large environmental problem due to storage required. Fusion is much more environmentally friendly than fission because it lacks these products. Fusion power is inherently safer than other forms of energy generation, such fission, as well. As mentioned, fusion produces no long-term nuclear waste. I... ... middle of paper ... ...hat problem. Works Cited Chris. "Can Renewables Replace Fossil Fuels?" GetRealList. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Nov. 2012. . Flakus, Franz-Nikolaus, John C. Cleveland, and T. J. Dolan. "Nuclear Fusion: Targeting Safety and Environmental Goals."IAEA BULLETIN. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2012. "Fusion Energy." Culham Centre for Fusion Energy. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012. . Hickman, Leo. "Fusion Power: Is It Getting Any Closer?"The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 23 Aug. 2011. Web. 30 Nov. 2012. . "Safety and Environment." Euratom Nuclear Research - Fusion. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2012. environment/index_en.htm>.

Show More
Related

  • Compare Nuclear Fusion vs. Nuclear Fission

    667 Words  | 2 Pages

    Nuclear energy must be a consideration for the future with the rapidly depleting supply of fossil fuels. This type of energy can be created through nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Nuclear fission is the splitting of a heavy atom into two or more parts, releasing huge amounts of energy. The release of energy can be controlled and captured for generating electricity. Nuclear fusion involves bombarding hydrogen atoms together to form helium. In the long run, nuclear fusion has greater potential than fission.

    Read More

  • Strategic Defense Initiative Essay

    708 Words  | 2 Pages

    Therefore, the initial excitement for space-nuclear power sources was quickly ended by uncertain requirements, and the broad range of more feasible technical approaches was researched.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Nuclear Power

    1250 Words  | 3 Pages

    Nuclear power has no place in having a safe, clean, sustainable future. Today, the manufacturing of nuclear power plants has become a critical topic throughout the world that many strongly believe should be stopped. Nuclear Power is not safe anywhere in the world nor is it environmentally friendly. Nuclear power plants are truly something that could cause mass destruction in the world and has the potential to wipe out a whole country with ease. Despite proponents’ that claim that nuclear power is safe, there is a history that proves otherwise and marks a number of disasters caused by nuclear power plants.

    Read More

  • Nuclear Energy: Uranium Fission

    1170 Words  | 3 Pages

    supplied by the uranium in sea water for 7 million years(Energy 25). This is a

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Nuclear Fusion

    1691 Words  | 4 Pages

    Deuterium is inexpensively extracted from water, and tritium is produced during the reaction itself via lithium. Deuterium and lithium are placed within a containment field created by two large electromagnets, with water below, and the two are heated until they become highly ionized gas, or plasma. From there, the heat is maintained until the two sets of plasma come together, or fuse, and release a burst of energy that surpasses all other methods, including nuclear fission. Nuclear fusion is a safer method of nuclear power, as the isotopes are proven stable both alone and together, are not exceedingly radioactive, and do not pose any known threat of pollution. Alongside this, nuclear fusion is an “intrinsically safe [fusion] reactor operation” as a combination of the “sensitive temperature-pressure balance requirement for reactions to occur” and the minimal amount of material necessary to produce energy ensures that “even in the event of a loss of coolant or power-failure, there is no danger of runaway processes caused by uncontrolled chain-reactions, avoiding the possibility of major accidents.” (“Fusion” 10) Nuclear fusion can be considered a method of harnessing renewable solar energy, and easily complements not only the existing solar initiatives, but those of wind and hydroelectric power as well. (“Fusion”) Currently, nuclear

    Read More

  • Compare and Contrast of Nuclear Energy and Alternative Energy

    1351 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the biggest and most prevalent problems is the need for clean, renewable, sustainable energy. On the forefront of these problems comes the following solutions: nuclear energy, hydro-electric energy, and photovoltaic energy. With the need for energy in today’s current world, exploring different ways of producing power is necessary. The differences and similarities between nuclear energy and alternative energy are important to look over and examine in depth, so that it is plain to see the positive and negative effects of energy production. To begin, nuclear power is produced by nuclear fission, which is the splitting of an atom to start a chain reaction (“11 Facts”).

    Read More

  • Different Types of Nuclear Energy

    1102 Words  | 3 Pages

    As a source of energy, nuclear energy provides a safer alternative, for the production of energy for large-scale consumption. There are two different types of nuclear energy; nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. Nuclear fission is the process in which a nucleus spits into two or more smaller nuclei. Nuclear fusion is the process in which two nuclei fuse together to form a larger nuclei. Nuclear reactors can become unstable creating an uncontrollable nuclear reaction. The effects of this can be seen in Chernobyl. Reactors have been designed safer after this disaster.

    Read More

  • Fission Or Fusion

    1301 Words  | 3 Pages

    I think that right now, fission is the only way that we can get more

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Nuclear Fission And Nuclear Fusion

    1414 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fusion is an experimental technology for producing power. Therefore, the only product that is created during the nuclear fusion process is helium, which is not a green house gas. This is a great for the environment and our atmosphere because it does not contribute anything to the global warming problem. Also this product is safe and non-toxic, and it is one of the biggest benefits of using nuclear fusion, rather than nuclear fission.

    Read More

  • Positive Effects of Nuclear Power

    938 Words  | 2 Pages

    The use of nuclear energy has increased in the United States since 1973. Nuclear energy's share of U.S. electricity generation has grown from 4 percent in 1973 to 19 percent in 1998. This is excellent news for the environment. Nuclear energy and hydropower are the cleanest large-scale means of electricity production. Since nuclear power plants do not burn fuel, they emit no combustion byproducts—like carbon dioxide—into the atmosphere (www.nei.org). Nuclear power can come from the fission of Uranium, plutonium or thorium or the fusion of hydrogen into helium. Today uranium (U-235 and U-238) is most commonly used in the production of nuclear energy. The expa...

    Read More

  • Nuclear Fusion

    826 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Industrial Revolution sparked a need for large sources of energy. Human and animal labor could not provide the power necessary to power industrial machinery, railroads, and ships. The steam engine and later the internal combustion engine provided the bulk of the energy required by the industrial age. Today most nations are still heavily reliant on energy that comes from combustion. Usually coal, petrolium, and natural gas are used. Some hydroelectric, wind power, and nuclear fission sources are used, but in the US they accounted for less than 20% of the total energy consumption in 1997 (1). Many experts are worried that natural resources such as coal and petrolium are being depleted faster than they are being replenished, which could result in an energy crisis. Nuclear fission produces highly radioactive waste that is expensive to dispose of properly. Nuclear fusion reactors would produce much less radioactive waste and would be more efficient than nuclear fission, but to date there have been no nuclear fusion reactors that have generated usable energy output. Why is fusion power, which could be very beneficial, so hard to come by?

    Read More

  • Compare And Contrast Fusion And Fission

    323 Words  | 1 Pages

    For many years we have used energy to power our houses, cars, and cities. Most people are concerned with the energy we are using kills our planet. We have developed ways to combat that issue using natural renewable resources one example is nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is generating electricity from an atom’s center, or the nucleus. There are two ways to harvest the energy, though fusion, and fission.

    Read More

  • Nuclear Power: Dirty, Dangerous and Expensive

    3279 Words  | 7 Pages

    The energy industry is beginning to change. In today’s modern world, governments across the globe are shifting their focuses from traditional sources of power, like the burning coal and oil, to the more complex and scientific nuclear power supply. This relatively new system uses powerful fuel sources and produces little to no emissions while outputting enough energy to fulfill the world’s power needs (Community Science, n.d.). But while nuclear power seems to be a perfect energy source, no power production system is without faults, and nuclear reactors are no exception, with their flaws manifesting in the form of safety. Nuclear reactors employ complex systems involving pressure and heat. If any of these systems dysfunctions, the reactor can leak or even explode releasing tons of highly radioactive elements into the environment. Anyone who works at or near a nuclear reactor is constantly in danger of being exposed to a nuclear incident similar to the ones that occurred at the Chernobyl and Fukushima Daiichi plants. These major accidents along with the unresolved problems with the design and function of nuclear reactors, as well as the economic and health issues that nuclear reactors present serve to show that nuclear energy sources are not worth the service that they provide and are too dangerous to routinely use.

    Read More

  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Nuclear Energy

    1323 Words  | 3 Pages

    Whilst there are clear arguments for and against nuclear energy, the future is promising; with scientists working on potential breakthroughs such as nuclear fusion, and the design of newer and better and reactors. Nuclear fusion is a reaction which causes the nuclei of atoms to collide and form a new atomic nucleus. It is essentially what heats the sun and stars and would produce no long-lived radioactive waste.22 If scientists could control the process of atomic fusion then it could become a never ending energy source for future use.

    Read More

  • Climate Change and Sustainable Development

    1204 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...ion of fusion power plant when the technology has achieved a certain level. This level will be reach with free market and patents right, which will create incentive for scientist to make innovation. Hopefully, countries, in the future, will find co-operating relationship’ among each other and solve environmental problems.

    Read More

More about Case for Nuclear Fusion

Open Document