Hydrogen Engine

Check any newspaper – you’ll read about the many controversies surrounding nuclear power. Despite its great energy potential, people are generally frightened by it. Think of the disasters at Nagasaki and Chernobyl – these incidents provide powerful ammunition against nuclear power. But, like anything else, there are discussions about the advantages and disadvantages of using nuclear power as an alternative energy.

Despite the bad press, many countries are now enjoying nuclear power as a safe and affordable alternative energy. France, for instance, employs nuclear power for about 75% of its energy needs, and can boast that it has the cleanest air of any industrialized nation. Cost-wise, it’s the cheapest electricity in Europe.

We’ve all heard the term, “Nuclear Fusion”. It is important to understand the meaning of this so that an informed decision can be made as to whether or not it is a good option for a country.

Here’s the layman’s explanation of fusion and fission: Fission makes energy by splitting the atom, which requires very heavy metals in order to work. Fusion is the process of fusing two atoms together. Not to get too technical, this uses light nuclei, which are mostly variations of hydrogen.

Here’s what happens when atoms fuse together – helium is made. Helium is lighter than the hydrogen atoms were. The mass lost during the reaction is what produces the energy. It is in the form of heat, which then powers a turbine to produce electricity.

The biggest problem with nuclear power is that a lot of heat needs to be maintained to keep the reaction going for a long period of time. Both fusion and fission can create power but one must decide which method is better.

Fusion creates less radioactive waste than Fission, and that waste is generally only dangerous for around 50 years. Fission, on the other hand, leaves a lot of waste that remains reactive for tens of thousands of years. This is the huge issue with Fission.

The other bonus with Fusion is that it has virtually no safety risks. The whole process is self-sustained. Essentially, if a problem were to occur with Fission, the reaction would be almost unstoppable. With fusion, the biggest factor is heat. If a malfunction occurs, the reactors cool, stopping the reaction and erasing the risk of meltdown.

On a side note, the materials needed for nuclear fusion are found in abundance and cannot be used to make weapons.

Considering all the factors, nuclear fusion seems to be a viable option for creating power. Scientists are continually working on finding ways to create a self-sustained fusion reactor that is also energy efficient. Right now fission reactors create energy, but are high risk and drop a lot of radioactive waste, could potentially melt down, and of course – use materials that could be used to make weapons.

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