A study of fusion energy

• Main Author: Wang, Daniel Yuebin
• Other Authors: Ong Keng Sian, Vincent
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/67846
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The conventional non-renewable energy supplies from fossil fuels in the form of coal, oil and natural gas are to deplete completely over the next 60 years. Humanity has developed and studied new ways of obtaining energy. One of this research involves nuclear energy, which allows harnessing a substantial amount of energy from a small mass. Nuclear energy exists in two forms: nuclear fusion and nuclear fission. However, the effects from these two forms of nuclear energy is vastly different. Today, nuclear fission is the main form of nuclear energy capable of producing large amounts of energy at the expense of numerous risks and hazards. However, nuclear fission has seen a wide range of issues in recent history. The case studies of Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima are reminders of the dangers nuclear fission can pose for humanity. This project will highlight the dangers of nuclear fission it will be environmentally damaging over time. On the other hand, the other form of nuclear energy comes from nuclear fusion. Nuclear fusion has many advantages over nuclear fission and seemingly solves a number of shortcomings that fission has. However, fundamental issues of yielding this form of energy still poses as a great challenge to many scientists. In recent times, many scientists have developed many revolutionary techniques in the form of inertial and magnetic confinement to solve these issues. They have been limited to a small degree of success as they have not been able to achieve a sustainable long term greater output power compared to the input power. This thesis would have to examine the different ways scientists are using to overcome the fundamental challenges and which method would ultimately have the highest probability of success. If this process is successful, fusion energy may revolutionise the many applications that we use today and provide a safe and sustainable solution to the energy crisis of today.