Fusion occurs when two atoms slam together to form a heavier atom, like when two hydrogen atoms fuse to form one helium atom. All of the energy we produce comes from basic chemical and physical processes. A fusion reactor burning just 1 kg of fuel per day could produce a sustained power output of 1 GW. If fusion energy does become practical, it offers the many a limitless source of fuel, deuterium from the ocean, no possibility of a reactor accident, as the amount of fuel in the system is very small, and waste products much less radioactive and simpler to handle than those from fission systems. This leads me on to my second point, conventional nuclear power, or nuclear fission isn't that dangerous. From sodium-cooled fission to advanced fusion, a fresh generation of projects hopes to rekindle trust in nuclear energy. The main downside is that we have not yet produced a practical fusion reactor for everyday use. In theory at least, fusion should be easier to control than fission. This is the same process that powers the sun and creates huge amounts of energy—several times greater than fission. Second, no … But unlike fission, this radioactive waste is short-lived, quickly decaying to undetectable levels. Fission more stable the Fusion. My friend's concerns over the safety of nuclear fusion is just down to the fact that the word "nuclear" is in the name. … Its major by-product is helium: an inert, non-toxic gas. Escaping from liability is one of many differences between atomic power and renewable-energy sources. In Fusion, a lot of energy must be put into the process to force the protons close enough to snap together. Fusion only produces more energy than it consumes in small nuclei (in stars, Hydrogen & its isotopes fusing into Helium). Is it safer than Nuclear Fission?, Does it last longer than Nuclear Fission?, What is Nuclear Fusion?, One of the only man-made fusion devices to achieve ignition to date is the ___ ___? In fusion the positive nuclei of two atoms must be brought together close enough for the nuclear force to be stronger than the repulsive electromagnetic force; to achieve that massive amounts of energy go into heating the nuclei until they have enough energy to fuse. Thorium is lighter than uranium, it doesn't undergo fission, and can't create runaway meltdown like uranium. ITER ("The Way" in Latin) is one of the most ambitious energy projects in the world today. say that fusion is always more powerful than fission; it depends on which fusion reaction we are talking about and what "more powerful" means. Nuclear fusion is safer than nuclear fission. In order for fusion to occur, you need a temperature of at least 100,000,000 degrees Celsius. Extremely high temperatures (on the order of 1.5 x 10 7 °C) can force nuclei together so the strong nuclear force can bond them. I understand that fusion will be more efficient, eliminate radioactive waste, and replace fission power, but overall, the waste (if properly controlled and managed) is actually fairly small for a fission nuclear power plant. Fusion reactions are being studied by scientists, but are difficult to sustain for long periods of time because of the tremendous amount of pressure and temperature needed to join the nuclei together. First, let’s talk about our current nuclear reactors. Why Is Fusion Better Than Fission? The only byproduct of nuclear fusion is helium, which is safe and non toxic. By Kristin Shrader-Frechette, August 19, 2011. Unlike nuclear fission, the nuclear fusion reaction in a tokamak is an inherently safe reaction. Because nuclear fusion has no chain reaction involved. It is environmentally friendly, safe, and capable of sustaining the planet for thousands of years. That’s slightly more than 6 times the temperature of the Sun’s core. It may seem counterintuitive that energy is released both when atoms split and when they merge. to heat water and produce electricity via a dynamo. Get the latest news, blogs and videos from the Office of Nuclear Energy in your inbox. Paul W. 1 decade ago . Whereas a fission reactor has about ten years worth of fuel in it, gradually growing more and more toxic over time. Nuclear fusion is safer than nuclear fission. What are disadvantages of nuclear energy? You can check out the difference between the two in this infographic below. This isn’t a chemical reaction like … • More conservative approaches for large scale energy and waste treatment for midcentury appear to exist for both MFE and IFE and have a better chance of success. But if we have Nuclear Fission giving us power already then why do we need Nuclear Fusion? It’s estimated 10% of radiative hydrogen isotope Tritium will escape. It also doesn’t produce highly radioactive fission products. But the main reason it's safer is because while an uncontrolled fission reactor can overheat and meltdown, a fusion reactor requires constant, precise control. TAE’s proprietary technology will generate and distribute cost-competitive, 24/7 on-demand fusion power to address the growing global need and secure our energy future. Nuclear fusion is safer than nuclear fission. They yield millions of times more energy than other sources through nuclear reactions. This in turn should mean that its far safer than fission. If we talk about energy per unit mass, then consider the fusion reaction: This is one of the biggest benefits of using nuclear fusion, rather than nuclear fission. Fusion is the same process that powers the sun and stars. So the amount that can be released in a most catastrophic imaginable accident is huge. What fuel is used in nuclear power plants? Fission reactors also pose quite a hefty problem of disposal of toxic wastes. 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