China To Test The World's First 'Artificial Sun'

[ECH1969]

The first plasma discharge from China's experimental advanced superconducting research center -- the so-called "artificial sun" -- is set to occur next month.

The discharge, expected about Aug. 15, will be conducted at Science Island in Hefei, in east China's Anhui Province, the Peoples Daily reported Monday.

Scientists told the newspaper a successful test will mean the world's first nuclear fusion device of its kind will be ready to go into actual operation, the newspaper said.

The plasma discharge will draw international attention since some scientists are concerned with risks involved in such a process. The experiment will take place in a structure made of reinforced concrete, with five-foot-thick walls and a three-foot-thick roof.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060724-065917-5783r

[gatorboy]

1. Didn't Dr. Octopus try to set one of these off in Spiderman 2???

That didn't seem to go well....

[atommom]

3. My thoughts exactly. They clearly haven't done their homework!

And once they become megalomaniacs, it'll be too late...

[originalpckelly]

11. You people have no idea what you are talking about...

there have been fusion reactors for many years. The very important thing about this is that it is supposed to break even because of its design. These fusion reactors do not operate because of gravity, they operate on extreme heat. Once they get going they can produce an infinite amount of energy (theoretically.)

This is a very big deal and could completely solve our energy problem. China is the first to get to the gate, and if the USA had given ITER more money it would have been first.

This is almost like the space race.

[charlie]

16. Break even? Are they making that claim?

If true, that would be huuuuuge. As far as I know, this is just a smaller, stripped down version of the international reactor being built in France, a sort of offsite "scratchpad" where they can run quick tests.

[originalpckelly]

20. I'm sorry...read it wrong...this is a big deal because of the reactors...

low price. That is the main reason they are discussing it.

[qazplm]

19. I'd be a little less frantic if I were you...

nuclear fusion will happen at roughly the same time all over the world.

It is not as if China has a head start on us or anyone else. We are all trying to figure out how to get sustainable fusion that provides positive energy. We'll get there IMO in the near future. Although what is meant by "near-future" could be still a generation away.

[soothsayer]

23. Won't an infinite amount of energy vaporize, China, Earth, etc?

[originalpckelly]

2. As we think small thoughts about nuclear fission...

China works on miracles like nuclear fusion reactors.

We have Tokomaks here in the USA, but they don't break even, that is produce more energy than they require to operate. FUCKING STUPID CONGRESS!!! FUCKING FUND FUSION!!! IT COULD BE OUR FINAL SOLUTION TO ENERGY PRODUCTION!!!!! Idiots!

[frankieT]

5. It could be final solution to oil business -eom-

[qazplm]

6. gotta take Chinese State pronouncements

on science with a bit of a grain of salt.

[AngryAmish]

25. I'm 37

I wrote a paper in high school about fusion power. They said it was 5 years away from break even.

I think that they problems with fusion are unsolvable with the current state of material science. Until (really) high temperature superconductors exist this won't work.

[qazplm]

4. first nuclear fusion device?

I'm a little skeptical about that claim.

[ECH1969]

7. re-read what it said

"first nuclear fusion device of its kind"

[qazplm]

10. which means what exactly?

The first one with a made in Beijing label on it?

you've got people in this very thread thinking China has developed workable nuclear fusion, which was the intent I think of the pronouncements wording from the Chinese. I was just saying hey guys, this isnt what it sounds like.

[originalpckelly]

13. As I said before, nuclear fusion reactors have been in existence...

but they aren't a big deal because they aren't efficient and take more energy to operate than they produce. (This is mainly because unlike stars they must operate on heat energy alone.)

[qazplm]

14. yes, I know this...

that wasnt my point, in fact, it only emphasizes my point.

Read above where someone is claiming this is going to be the world's first energy neutral fusion reactor to show why I said I was "skeptical".

I am not skeptical that they can do nucelar fusion, I said be skeptical because they are making claims that are likely not to be true.

[originalpckelly]

18. It is possible...

it appears this new type of reactor is capable of breaking even. I get your point though, I don't really trust the Chinese.:hi:

[qazplm]

21. yes

when they stop relying on fishing boats as part of their invasion plan for Taiwan, I will start giving them more credit on technological equality with us.

Between their own research and stealing the West's they are definitely catching up, but they still got a ways to go.

[muriel_volestrangler]

27. According to WIkipedia, the first with superconducting

toroidal and poloidal magnets. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EAST

[Xithras]

9. No, just the first of this type.

We've been building fusion research reactors for decades.

[AngryAmish]

26. There have been nuclear fusion devices since the 50s

They tend to be really loud and raise a lot of dust.

[unpossibles]

8. huh. what could posisbly go rwong?

lol. seriously, this is kind of neat, I just hope it doesn't blow up in our faces so to speak.

[lumberjack_jeff]

24. Nothing! (they bought the extended warranty) n/t

[BluePatriot]

12. cold fusion! cold fusion!

Just kidding *ducks*

[acmejack]

15. Older background information

Scientists to start nuclear fusion tests next month
snip>
AP , SHANGHAI
Saturday, Jun 03, 2006,Page 4

Chinese scientists have completed construction of an experimental superconducting fusion reactor that will replicate the same energy generation process that fuels the sun, with tests to begin as early as next month, state media reported yesterday.

The Tokamak fusion device, built in Hefei, the capital of eastern China's Anhui Province, is a smaller version of the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) to be built in southern France, which is not expected to be fully operational for a decade, the state-run newspaper China Daily reported.

Unlike conventional fission reactors, nuclear fusion produces no greenhouse gas emissions and only low levels of radioactive waste. Researchers hope it may eventually provide a cheaper, safer, cleaner and endless energy resource, reducing the world's dependence on fossil fuels and nuclear power.

China's reactor, known by the acronym EAST, for experimental advanced superconducting Tokamak, was built at the Institute of Plasma Physics, a research department of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, in Hefei.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2006/06/03/2003311485

[Nutmegger]

17. Well a fusion reactor is being built in France

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5012638.stm

Seven international parties involved in an experimental nuclear fusion reactor project have initialled a 10bn-euro (£6.8bn) agreement on the plan.

The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (Iter) will be the most expensive joint scientific project after the International Space Station.

Wednesday's agreement in Brussels gives the go-ahead for practical work on the project to start.

Fusion taps energy from reactions like those that power the Sun.

[mcscajun]

22. Well, I'm glad to see it's not until the 15th.

If it were this week, it might tie in with the RaptureReady Brigade's hopes/predictions for this week, and we just COULDN'T have That. :)

[pointblank]

28. Whatever they do ...

for god's sake someone please tell them to have an extra flux capacitor handy in case something goes awry.