Net Positive Fusion in 5 Years?

Filed in archive Edge Technology , Opinion , World on June 16, 2006

Eric Lerner and his team of leading scientists say they are five years away from having a fusion reactor capable of a 5 Mega Watt (MW) or greater output at a estimated cost of $1,000,000 per generation plant within 5 years. This is important because the potential of this energy source breakthrough would over time replace coal as an alternative energy source with the added potential to replace other fossil fuel applications as well. This new source of power could also make hydrogen production cost efficient.

What is it? Simply, Focus Fusion is the process of producing electricity through induction utilizing nuclear particles and x-rays produced from a nuclear fusion reactor called the (dense plasma focus) DPF reactor.

Withstanding the rigid multi-year and multi-disclosure process of scientific scrutiny the theories underlying focus fusion are solid. Additionally, proven science and technology lay the foundation for the DPF reactor. Exemplified and in cooperation with the University of Illinois and duplicated at Texas AM University the Lerner team ran a set of experiments that proved the DPF is capable of producing temperatures of 2 billion degrees enough to produce a powerful fusion reaction.

As compared to the 'cold fusion' reaction that was supposedly occurred at room temperature and that was never confirmed by repeat experimentation, the DPF reactor is derived from an experimental fusion reactor built in 1960. Lerner has to the greater extent capitalized on this foundation and is improving the process to the point of net energy gains. In other words, the focus fusion technology is proven unlike cold fusion.

Surprisingly, the reactor itself will be about the size of a coffee can. It will require a few large capacitors to provide the initial energy, and it needs a coil of wire to slow down the high-energy alpha particles, which produces the electricity by induction. In major terms, the induction method of producing electricity provides contrast to the developing E.U. ITER project (2015) which relies on heat transfer through conventional steam generators to produce electricity.

The DPF reactor will require a limited cooling system and a shield around the fusion-core to stop harmful x-rays. Overall it is expected that the DPF reactor would fit into a space equivalent to the space of a three car garage. An initial cost analysis considering some of the numbers associated with this project state that the core of the device i.e. capacitors, switches, electrode and vacuum chamber, costs about $200,000. Estimating the cost of the energy conversion and cooling systems are more difficult but $1,000,000 should cover it. In actuality, mass production expectantly would improve margins.

The DPF reactor is clean and safe: the fusion reaction produces no harmful long lived radio nuclides nor can it be used to produce bomb making material as the low rate of neutron emissions does not have the combined density to be enrich uranium. If the DPF reactor were struck as a terrorist target this reactor will not melt down as the fuel used for fusion reaction is boron a light base metal which is not susceptible to this reaction.

What's this worth in terms of energy cost savings to customers? On the conservative side of the expected case: the estimate is a 5MW net energy gain or output from the DPF reactor. According to an Energy Information Administration (EIA) report, based on census information, the average U.S. electric bill is $81.42 a month including distribution, production and tax costs. As a stand alone power source, such as for use in a developing nation, factoring in taxes and distribution costs the DPF reactor could provide power at about a $22.00 per month rate per customer. Other hybrid applications are under consideration and the cost to the consumer would vary depending on the application.

Beginning in July of this year, Lerner and his team with the some financial backing from the Chilean government will begin the final set of proof experiments for the final validation of their theory. From this point it is anticipated that it would take two additional years to engineer and construct the first commercially viable DPF reactor. According to Lerner only unknown factors would derail he and his teams' efforts.

More information on the DPF reactor may be found at the web site: http://www.focusfusion.org/