Our energy future depends on nuclear fusion, says Michel Laberge. The plasma physicist runs a small company with a big idea for a new type of nuclear reactor that could produce clean, cheap energy. His secret recipe? High speeds, scorching temperatures and crushing pressure. In this hopeful talk, he explains how nuclear fusion might be just around the corner.
Watch on youtube.comMini Reactors
Most traditional nuclear power plants are expensive behemoths, producing a consistent supply of power that doesn't change based on population fluctuations in the surrounding area. Oregon-based NuScale Power's proposed 45-megawatt mini reactors, on the other hand, are the Lego bricks of the nuclear power world: These self-contained reactor/containment structure combos can be stacked together or separated as regional need dictates. "You install a module as the power demand increases—it's a plug-and-play sort of model," says Jose Reyes, chief technology officer at NuScale. Since the entire reactor assembly sits in a concrete bunker underground, mini reactors could prove ideal for use in areas that have a history of seismic activity—a need that Japan's earthquake- and tsunami-induced nuclear disaster has proved all too well.
Read more: Mini Reactors - Safe Nuclear Fission - Popular Mechanics
Follow us: @PopMech on Twitter | popularmechanics on Facebook
Visit us at PopularMechanics.com
Watch on