Nuclear Fusion

[Mir]

Hello everyone,

 

My name is Mir and I am an undergraduate student studying in Brighton, UK. For my ‘Climate Change and Global Business Operations’ module I am conducting a research project regarding ‘Nuclear Fusion technology being a viable concept in the future to provide long-term low carbon energy’. I am writing because my project requires me to conduct primary research to support my secondary research and was wondering if people who have the relevant knowledge would be kind enough to answer a short (6 question) semi-structured questionnaire regarding nuclear fusion (below). If you don't mind, could you please include your name, what you study/teach and the university you're from.I assure you that the answers would be utterly confidential (please message your answers to me so that other respondents aren't affected by your answers). My tutor would be the only other person who would be able to see the report for grading purposes only. In the unlikely event that my report may be shared, your full consent would be sought before any action is taken.

 

I realise that the answers to the questions that I have designed are available via secondaryresearch, however as mentioned above, the purpose of the questionnaire is to acquire primary research to validate my secondary research. I would be very grateful if you could spare 5 minutes of your time to help me. Unfortunately I’ve been set a strict deadline to acquire the primary research and am sorry to press you but it would be really helpful if you could return it to me by the evening of Friday 27th April at the latest.

 

I really hope youcan help,

 

Many thanks,

 

Mir

 

 

 

Semi-structuredquestions

 

1. Do you think nuclear fusion technology could be a viable concept in the future to provide commercially available low carbon energy? If yes and all the necessary funding were acquired, how many years do you think it would take?

 

No

 

Yes and I think it would take between

 

10-19 years

20-29 years

30-39 years

40-49 years

50-59 years

60 years or over

 

Any other comments (please use this space to share your reasoning, thoughts, or anything else you want to bring to the researchers attention)

 

 

 

2. Which one of the two leading designs for controlled nuclear fusion do you think is more likely to be developed for commercial production of energy?

 

Inertial

 

Magnetic

 

Any other comments (please use this space to share your reasoning, thoughts, or anything else you want to bring to the researchers attention)

 

 

 

3. What do you think the benefits of nuclear fusion technology could be in terms of energy production? (You can choose none or all answers below)

 

A long term,sustainable, economic and safe energy source for electricity generation

No greenhouse gases emitted

An enormous supply of inexpensive fuel (deuterium and tritium)

Minimal long lived radioactive products

Possible recycling of some reactor materials and unburned fuel

 

Any other benefits/ comments (please use this space to share other benefits, your reasoning,thoughts, or anything else you want to bring to the researchers attention)

 

 

 

4. Does nuclear fusion have any health or environmental risks associated with it? If so, what do you think they are?

 

 

 

 

5. What are the challenges and threats that nuclear fusion technology faces today? Can these obstacles be overcome? (You can choose none or all answers below)

 

It’s a pipe dream –problems are unlikely to be overcome

Not enough funding for research – It can or cannot be overcome

Material of the first wall – It can or cannot be overcome in time

Breeding of tritium– It can or cannot be overcome

“Disruptions” in areactor - It can or cannot be overcome

 

Any otherchallenges and threats / comments (please use this space to share other challenges and threats, your reasoning, thoughts, or anything else you want to bring to the researchers attention)

 

 

 

6. How do you think nuclear fusion technology can affect climate change?

 

It won’t tackle climate change

It’s a long-term solution to providing green energy

It could have a profound positive effect that we cannot envisage

 

Any other comments(please use this space to share your reasoning, thoughts, or anything else you want to bring to the researchers attention)

 

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2012 by Mir

[spockshot103]

i might have a idea for nuclear fusion can u use a particle accelerator for nuclear fusion?

can u or no??

[Klaynos]

i might have a idea for nuclear fusion can u use a particle accelerator for nuclear fusion?

can u or no??

 

!

Moderator Note

spockshot103, if you would like to discus this I'd suggest opening a new thread. This is not the place for that discussion.

 

Please do not reply to this modnote, or spockshot103's above post.