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Re: [Phys-L] Skunkworks Compact Fusion Reactor (concept)



Also mentioned are efforts to ‘Attract Major Outside Support’ to continue the research.


On Oct 17, 2014, at 8:30 AM, brian whatcott <betwys1@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Aviation Week carried a note on Skunkworks Compact Fusion Reactor on Wednesday.

"Hidden away in the secret depths of the Skunk Works, aLockheed Martin<http://awin.aviationweek.com/OrganizationProfiles.aspx?orgId=27191>research team has been working quietly on a nuclear energy concept they believe has the potential to meet, if not eventually decrease, the world's insatiable demand for power.

Dubbed the compact fusion reactor (CFR), the device is conceptually safer, cleaner and more powerful than much larger, current nuclear systems that rely on fission, the process of splitting atoms to release energy. Crucially, by being "compact," Lockheed believes its scalable concept will also be small and practical enough for applications ranging from interplanetary spacecraft and commercial ships to city power stations. It may even revive the concept of large, nuclear-powered aircraft that virtually never require refueling---ideas of which were largely abandoned more than 50 years ago because of the dangers and complexities involved with nuclear fission reactors."

Yesterday, Science (on line news) mentioned it.
"The defense firm Lockheed Martin sent tech geeks into a frenzy yesterday when itrevealed a few scant details of a "compact fusion reactor" (CFR) that a small team has been working on at the company's secretive Skunk Works in Palmdale, California. The company says that its innovative method for confining the superhot ionized gas, or plasma, necessary for fusion means that it can make a working reactor 1/10 the size of current efforts, such as the international ITER fusion project under construction in France."

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Skunkworks is known to pull off difficult engineering concepts. Hope they get lucky! The time horizon is 5 years to demo; 10 years to commercial product. Possibly a cusp geometry, perhaps one known as a "picket fence." Speculatively using a Field Reversed Configuration. Super conductive electromagnets.

Brian Whatcott

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