Fusion reactors and global warming. India playing a part.

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Fusion reactors and global warming. India playing a part.

By: Karthik :+: Under: Science, Technology
On: ⋅ July 5, 2007 ⋅

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A rendering of the ITER reactor from iter.org

The Indian Cabinet approved 25 billion rupees, USD595 Million, which enables India to play a part in the International Thermonuclear Experiment Reactor, which is to be built at Cadarache in the South of France.

At a cost of USD 12.8 Billion, the experimental reactor should be completed by 2040 with help from The EU, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea.

Why is the ITER different?

Fusion is the energy source of the sun and the stars. On earth, fusion research is aimed at demonstrating that this energy source can be used to produce electricity in a safe and environmentally benign way, with abundant fuel resources, to meet the needs of a growing world population.

And unlike most other forms of producing commercially viable energy, Carbon dioxide will not be a byproduct, this should make My mom, Environmentalists and Al Gore very happy.

For everyone who skipped Science classes, this research is a big deal. Nuclear fission is the main technology used in all commercial reactors and uranium is the commonly used fuel. Fission reactors also have to deal with Nuclear waste, radiation and possible evacuation if an unforeseen event occurs. Most of these complications are alleviated with a Fusion reactor.

These analyzes show that under normal operation the extra annual dose to the most exposed individual is about 1% more than that of natural background radiation. Under the worst case accident scenario, the extra annual dose the most exposed individual would receive is about double that of natural radiation (which itself varies by more than this factor from place to place). Even under the worst accumulation of accidents (for which no chain of events can be envisaged), evacuation of the most exposed individual would not be required according to ICRP and IAEA guidelines.

A more detailed layman explanation is available at the ITER Fan site.

Unlike nuclear fission, only low-level radioactive material, no more dangerous than hospital waste, is left over afterwards. And best of all, a runaway chain reaction like the one that caused the Chernobyl meltdown is simply impossible.

Although the technology needs to be perfected and the kinks need to be ironed out, it makes me proud to see that India is slowly gaining its place amongst the powerful countries of the world. That and the fact that someone in the government is being advised about global warming and looking at long term strategies to combat it.