Small fusion reactors???

[Al Johnson]

Lockheed is talking about a breakthrough technology to make small fusion, not fission, reactors in about 10 years. How amazing, if it can actually be done. We can only hope.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/capital-business/wp/2014/10/15/nuclear-fusion-energy-in-a-decade-lockheed-martin-is-betting-on-it/

 

[BirdOPrey5]

As cool as that would be, I don't get why they are going public with this... what do they hope to achieve? If it worked, great, surprise the world in just a few years. But if it doesn't, as countless other Fusion attempts that have gone before it- now you all look bad, raised hopes, and people get even more jaded about fusion than they were before.

I can't help but think this doesn't become a way to poison fusion for another generation of scientists and engineers.

 

[Al Johnson]

Lockheed Martin Compact Fusion Research Development - YouTube

As cool as that would be, I don't get why they are going public with this... what do they hope to achieve? If it worked, great, surprise the world in just a few years. But if it doesn't, as countless other Fusion attempts that have gone before it- now you all look bad, raised hopes, and people get even more jaded about fusion than they were before.

I can't help but think this doesn't become a way to poison fusion for another generation of scientists and engineers.

I get what you're saying, but they claim that they are at a point where they need partners, both financial and scientific/technical. This is the Skunk Works, just a relatively small branch of Lockheed. They don't have the kind of money or expertise that it will take to develop this to a commercial level. And I hope it's not just another flash in the pan, like the Cold Fusion stuff we heard about some years ago. That would suck.

 

[neevo]

and there we have it. They need investors and the 10 year timeline is one they think folk will fall for. If they were realistic then they would go for 20-30 years but for large power plants and the investors will dry up

 

[neelandan]

Finally, when they get it to work, the contraption is going to weigh 2E30 kg and be placed far from human habitation, around 15E7 km.

 

[DieselSJ]

If this is coming from the Skunk Works, then there is a very good chance they already have one operational. Now they need to shrink it, and release it to the world. By claiming that they don't yet have it, it keeps down the industrial espionage. Think about how hard China and NK would work to get that information if they knew we had an operational fusion reactor.

 

[whiskey tango]

If this is coming from the Skunk Works, then there is a very good chance they already have one operational. Now they need to shrink it, and release it to the world. By claiming that they don't yet have it, it keeps down the industrial espionage. Think about how hard China and NK would work to get that information if they knew we had an operational fusion reactor.

When did tony stark start working for skunkworks?

 

[Al Johnson]

When did tony stark start working for skunkworks?

About the time they were starting to work on the SR71. Secret stuff, do not spread this around.

 

[BirdOPrey5]

Should these things ever materialize it will, virtually overnight, turn the oil rich countries in the middle east into the same as the oil poor countries- that is- we won't really care what they do so long as they stay over there.

 

[whiskey tango]

Should these things ever materialize it will, virtually overnight, turn the oil rich countries in the middle east into the same as the oil poor countries- that is- we won't really care what they do so long as they stay over there.

Natural gas is about to knock them on their asses.

 

[DieselSJ]

Natural gas is about to knock them on their asses.

Already is. Why do you think oil prices are dropping? OPEC is starting to screw each other and they aren't cooperating on supply and pricing. Our oil and natural gas production is the only reason our economy is starting to move.

 

[whiskey tango]

Already is. Why do you think oil prices are dropping? OPEC is starting to screw each other and they aren't cooperating on supply and pricing. Our oil and natural gas production is the only reason our economy is starting to move.

It hasn't even begun. There is a natural gas shit storm of epic proportions brewing. It is the alternative fuel everyone is looking for. The only reason it hasn't taken off yet is because the greenies refuse to accept it since it is part of the oil industry.

 

[Al Johnson]

It hasn't even begun. There is a natural gas shit storm of epic proportions brewing. It is the alternative fuel everyone is looking for. The only reason it hasn't taken off yet is because the greenies refuse to accept it since it is part of the oil industry.

Natural gas is nearly the perfect fuel. The only thing that could be more perfect is hydrogen, and the supply problem kicks that out of contention. IF there is enough natural gas, and I'm not sure there is even with new discoveries, we are golden.

 

[whiskey tango]

Natural gas is nearly the perfect fuel. The only thing that could be more perfect is hydrogen, and the supply problem kicks that out of contention. IF there is enough natural gas, and I'm not sure there is even with new discoveries, we are golden.

There is so much natural gas coming out of the ground right now, it cannot be processed by existing pipelines and refineries. It burns 24/7. The US will be exporting it within the next few years if the liberal fawks would get the fawk over the fact that their alternative fuel answer goes hand in hand with oil. Once the pipelines and ships are built and the refineries retrofitted we'll be rocking and rolling.

 

[BirdOPrey5]

What about the environmental problems from fracking? I wouldn't want to live near where they frack.

 

[whiskey tango]

What about the environmental problems from fracking? I wouldn't want to live near where they frack.

Can you be more specific?

 

[abqtj]

NIMBY

 

[whiskey tango]

NIMBY

You would be singing a different tune if you were being offered hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars by these leasing companies.

 

[abqtj]

I'm commenting on BoP

 

[BirdOPrey5]

Can you be more specific?

Ground water being so contaminated it becomes flammable?

The fact that chemicals being pumped into the ground aren't made public because they are "trade secrets." If you pump something into the land it should be public record what you are pumping down there- we should know by now nothing stays buried. We're going to end up dealing with this shit in 50 or a 100 years just like we clean rivers now we used to allow industry to pollute.