Fusion: Conclusion

With the continued successes enjoyed by each new reactor built, it will only be a matter of time before fusion generates enough power for it to become a viable alternate source of energy in the world. The low cost of fuel extraction and the minimal environmental impact caused by both fusion generator techniques serve to create a bright future for this technology. It remains to be seen, however, which reactor (magnetic or inertial) will ultimately come out on top as the definitive fusion power generator.

Fusion: What's Next?

Though not fully developed, fusion reactors continue to remain one of the most promising sources of power for the future. Fusion reactors are underdevelopment as we speak. In the late 1980s, the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER) collaboration was established. Since then, Engineering Design Activities (which began in 1992) for a next-generation reactor has taken place, and was completed in mid-2001. The $3 billion tokamak reactor is set to begin construction in 2006, with plans for the power plant to be fully functional by 2014. Although producing less electricity than the average power plant, scientists hope that this reactor will prove to the world that fusion is indeed the energy of the future.

Though the deuterium-tritium fusion reaction appears to be a very promising source for energy for the future, there are relatively limited sources of tritium. As a result, the second generation reactors might involve deuterium-deuterium reactors. As one of the possible products of a deuterium-deuterium reaction is tritium, this can be used to further drive a deuterium-tritium reaction. Deuterium-deuterium reactions are currently not viable as they have an even higher activation energy than deuterium-tritium reactions.

An improvement to the existing design of the steam turbine engine might be beneficial to the fusion process. As the steam turbine engine was developed so long ago, there must be ways of designing a better more efficient way of harnessing energy.