China claims progress in fusion, says experimental reactor this year

(AP) -- Chinese scientists have completed construction of an experimental superconducting fusion reactor that will replicate the same energy generation process that fuels the sun, with tests to begin as early as July, state media reported Friday.

The Tokamak fusion device, built in Hefei, the capital of eastern China's Anhui province, is a smaller version of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) to be built in southern France, which is not expected to be fully operational for a decade, the state-run newspaper China Daily reported. Unlike conventional fission reactors, nuclear fusion produces no greenhouse gas emissions and only low levels of radioactive waste. Researchers hope it may eventually provide a cheaper, safer, cleaner and endless energy resource, reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power. China's reactor, known by the acronym EAST, for experimental advanced superconducting Tokamak, was built at the Institute of Plasma Physics, a research department of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Hefei. Although about a dozen experimental Tokamak reactors are in operation worldwide, the technology is still under development. The newly built Chinese reactor is a further advancement on the design. China has been eager to claim progress in the project, as well as other advanced technologies. ''Over the next 10 years, while ITER is being built, we can conduct preliminary research on EAST to facilitate the operation and exploitation of ITER in the future,'' the newspaper cited Minister of Science and Technology Xu Guanhua as saying.



A staffer at the Institute of Plasma Physics, contacted by phone, refused comment on the project. China is one of seven countries participating in the multination project to build the euro10 billion (US$12.8 billion) ITER in Cadarache, southern France. Construction is due to begin in 2007. Xu said the reactor in Hefei would replicate the fusion power of the sun, forcing deuterium and tritium atoms together at a temperature of 100 million Celsius, with a fusion power of about 500 megawatts. He said China would use its experience in the ITER program to nurture expertise for ''more self reliant development.'' Earlier reports said scientists would begin experiments using the 300 million yuan (US$37 million; euro29 million) EAST by July or August. By ELAINE KURTENBACH Associated Press Writer Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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There is a discussion of this news at PhysOrgForum entitled: ` chinese fusion crackers`There are 4 replies in that topic.The last post was on 4-Jun-2006The first 5 posts are :
On 3-Jun-2006 by ARtone
http://www.physorg.com/news68444642.html Not even the chinese will do it that way, the theory is completely wrong. Fermat and Andrew Whiles have claimed that no two cubes of simular or dissimular size can be joined together to make a larger cube which is what would be required for the fusion production of energy. However, it may be possible to take groups of 8 of the same particles and combine these to produce a larger particle this would produce 50% excess enegy than that required to maintain the integrity of the eight individual smaller particles. AR
On 4-Jun-2006 by jayakar
Only natural fission and fusion are safe. We cannot predict the hazards due to any artificial manipulations on this fundamental phenomenon and hence it is better to harvest the natural energy as for as possible, for the safety of Human beings.
On 4-Jun-2006 by holoman
The world's oceans contain enough deurterium and tritium to supply energy for greater than 25,000 times the life expectancy of the planet earth.And its free for the taking !!!
On 4-Jun-2006 by ARtone
Only if you find a way of using such elements. The current theory is rubbishAR
On 4-Jun-2006 by shron
QUOTE (jayakar @ Jun 4 2006, 02:52 PM)
Only natural fission and fusion are safe. We cannot predict the hazards due to any artificial manipulations on this fundamental phenomenon and hence it is better to harvest the natural energy as for as possible, for the safety of Human beings.
If we know how this fusion stuff works, then in the future human may migrate to places where no sun is available. We can still survive by building our own sun. So in the long run, it is safety of Human beings.