Fusion Reactor To Replace Fossil Fuels With Artificial Stars

Have you ever thought of a future when we can replace almost all the fossil fuels, such as natural gas, coal, or oil with new kinds of fuels from the fusion reactor? The answer might belong to China's Artificial star.

Chinese scientists are working with the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) to make it becomes reality. EAST, for those who don't already know,  is a fusion reactor headquartered in Hefei, China. And now, it has reportedly reached a temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius, which is over six times hotter than the center of the sun.

Fusion is the process of two light atom being forced together due to immense heat and pressure to form a heavier atom. And when this merger happens, energy is released, which creates heat and light. Nonetheless, to overcome the repulsive force induced between the atoms is not an easy thing, especially in the case of big stars like the sun.

Source: Tech Insider

Fortunately, there is another way to overcome the extreme pressure which exists within the core, and the temperature is the key to this problem. As most of you know, "the larger kinetic temperature, the higher molecular speeds." By increasing in temperature, EAST can speed up the atomic nucleus and generate fusion.

Nonetheless, it extremely fast returns to the balanced status. Moreover, there are also restrictions on the movement of molecules if the temperature is too high or too low. So, we can only set off a fusion by reaching the ideal temperatures of 100 million degrees Celcius, which is over six times hotter than the core of the Sun.

In fact, EAST is one of the few fusion experiments surpassing this landmark to date. EAST has also made a breakthrough among its nuclear fusion experiments by maintaining the state for about 10 seconds.

Admittedly, EAST is just an experiment, a little reactor, not a completely developed power plant. And now, we need to develop fusion technology that is much more effective enough to supply power for the whole cities.

Similar to China's artificial star, International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, or ITER, which has still been the hugest fusion project in the world, has gained the investment of its construction from 35 global countries. The ITER now works as the first fusion reactor to generate more fusion power than the source of power to heat it up.

Different from the reaction kind at the current nuclear fission power plants, fusion reactors don't release radioactive waste. One notable thing, seawater is also one of the sustainable, renewable resources of these reactors.

Undoubtedly, EAST has the potentials to prove out the ability of fusion power plants to offer limitless clean energy, as well as secure the future of the planet.