2015年CRI ＂Reactor Relevant＂ Fusion, a Potential Game Changer in Energy Production

 

Fusion¹ is how stars produce energy. It occurs when the nuclei² of light atoms, such as hydrogen, are fused together under extreme pressure and heat.

Tokamak Energy, from Oxfordshire, believes that the third version of their compact, spherical³ tokamak reactor⁴ will be able to reach temperatures of 100 million degrees Celsius⁵ by 2020. That's seven times hotter than the centre of the sun and the temperature necessary to achieve fusion, which fuses hydrogen atoms together, releasing huge energy. Such an achievement will potentially make an enormous contribution both to world energy supplies and reducing carbon emissions⁶.

Senior Tokamak engineer Bill Huang says the key to their success is the spherical shape of its tokamak.

"Here what we're developing is building these small tokamaks, like ST25, and then we've got other devices using key technologies which are high temperature superconductors and spherical tokamak shapes. So we've got a slightly different shape from traditional fusion and this allows us to get a higher plasma⁷ pressure for a given magnetic field."

Tokamak Energy says its technology would be similar in costs to a nuclear fission⁸ plant, but without any fissile material and with no risk of meltdown.

The company is three stages into its five stage process - each involving a new reactor.

Tokamak CEO David Kingham believes it will be possible for his team to transfer energy to the grid⁹ by 2030.

"We want to get within five years to an energy gain, and from there we want to go on in ten years to get to first electricity, a device where we can demonstrate production of electricity from fusion, but it may be 15 years before we get energy to the grid in significant quantities."

Kingham adds Fusion will make a big difference to carbon emissions if it can be used.

"Fusion is one of those technologies which, if it could be harnessed, could be scaled up rapidly to be deployed¹⁰ world-wide by 2050 and could make a very big difference to carbon emissions and therefore to climate change from 2050 onwards."

A number of high-profile investors¹¹ have already showed their interest in various fusion projects.

1 fusion   

n.溶化；熔解；熔化状态，熔和；熔接

参考例句：

• Brass is formed by the fusion of copper and zinc. 黄铜是通过铜和锌的熔合而成的。
• This alloy is formed by the fusion of two types of metal.这种合金是用两种金属熔合而成的。

2 nuclei   

n.核

参考例句：

• To free electrons, something has to make them whirl fast enough to break away from their nuclei. 为了释放电子，必须使电子高速旋转而足以摆脱原子核的束缚。
• Energy is released by the fission of atomic nuclei. 能量是由原子核分裂释放出来的。

3 spherical   

adj.球形的；球面的

参考例句：

• The Earth is a nearly spherical planet.地球是一个近似球体的行星。
• Many engineers shy away from spherical projection methods.许多工程师对球面投影法有畏难情绪。

4 reactor   

n.反应器；反应堆

参考例句：

• The atomic reactor generates enormous amounts of thermal energy.原子反应堆发出大量的热能。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules.在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

5 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

6 emissions   

排放物( emission的名词复数 )； 散发物（尤指气体）

参考例句：

• Most scientists accept that climate change is linked to carbon emissions. 大多数科学家都相信气候变化与排放的含碳气体有关。
• Dangerous emissions radiate from plutonium. 危险的辐射物从钚放散出来。

7 plasma   

n.血浆，细胞质，乳清

参考例句：

• Keep some blood plasma back for the serious cases.留一些血浆给重病号。
• The plasma is the liquid portion of blood that is free of cells .血浆是血液的液体部分，不包含各种细胞。

8 fission   

n.裂开；分裂生殖

参考例句：

• The fission of the cell could be inhibited with certain chemicals.细胞的裂变可以通过某些化学药品加以抑制。
• Nuclear fission releases tremendous amounts of energy.核裂变释放出巨大的能量。

9 grid   

n.高压输电线路网；地图坐标方格；格栅

参考例句：

• In this application,the carrier is used to encapsulate the grid.在这种情况下，要用载体把格栅密封起来。
• Modern gauges consist of metal foil in the form of a grid.现代应变仪则由网格形式的金属片组成。

10 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

11 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会