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Nuclear fusion produces very little waste compared to nuclear fission. The waste produced by nuclear fusion is mainly low-level radioactive material, which is easier to manage and has a shorter lifespan.

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What are the advantages of a fusion reactor compared to a fission reactor?

You must realise that any claimed advantages are based on scientists predictions, and to some extent wishful thinking, as it is not even determined in engineering terms how a nuclear fusion plant could be built, what materials could be used, and how the heat would be extracted. However ever since fusion was proposed, scientists have been pointing out that it would produce much less radioactivity than fission does, and this is true, there would not be the spent fuel containing very highly active fission products that fission produces. There would be activation of structures in the plant due to the neutron irradiation coming from the plasma undergoing fusion. There are also consequences from needing to produce the tritium fuel, which is a dangerous substance to human health. So it all depends on future progress with ITER and further test rigs, but at the moment it is academic since it is very unlikely to happen within this century.


Why is fusion important?

Fusion is important because it has the potential to provide a nearly limitless source of clean and sustainable energy. It does not produce greenhouse gas emissions or long-lived radioactive waste, making it a promising alternative to fossil fuels. Additionally, fusion reactions use abundant sources of fuel, such as hydrogen isotopes, which makes it a viable long-term energy solution.


How much waste do the nuclear power plants in the US make each year?

Nuclear power plants in the US produce approximately 2,000-2,300 metric tons of radioactive waste each year. This waste is mainly in the form of used nuclear fuel, which is stored on-site at the plants until a long-term disposal solution is established.


How do you use fission and fusion in a nuclear power plant?

In a nuclear power plant, nuclear fission is used to generate energy by splitting atoms of uranium or another fuel. This process releases a large amount of heat, which is used to produce steam to drive turbines and generators to create electricity. Nuclear fusion, on the other hand, is a process where atoms are combined at extremely high temperatures and pressures to release energy, but it is not currently used in commercial nuclear power plants due to the technical challenges involved.


Can gold be created on earth by a fusion reaction?

Gold can be created on Earth through nuclear reactions, such as the fusion of heavier elements in the core of supernovae or in particle accelerators. However, the amount of energy required to produce gold through fusion is currently much higher than the value of the gold produced, making it not economically feasible.

Related Questions

Nuclear fusion compared to nuclear fission?

Nuclear fusion is the process of combining two light atomic nuclei to form a heavier nucleus, releasing large amounts of energy. Nuclear fission is the process of splitting a heavy atomic nucleus into smaller nuclei, also releasing energy. Fusion powers the sun and hydrogen bombs, while fission is used in nuclear power plants and atomic bombs. Fusion reactions produce less radioactive waste than fission reactions.


How much nuclear waste does the koeberg power station produce?

s the question


Does nuclear fusion produce much less energy per atom than nuclear fission?

In terms of energy per atom, nuclear fusion produces more energy than nuclear fission. Fusion reactions involve the combination of lighter atomic nuclei to form heavier nuclei, releasing large amounts of energy in the process. Fission reactions, on the other hand, involve the splitting of heavier atomic nuclei into smaller fragments, releasing energy.


What are the advantages of a fusion reactor compared to a fission reactor?

You must realise that any claimed advantages are based on scientists predictions, and to some extent wishful thinking, as it is not even determined in engineering terms how a nuclear fusion plant could be built, what materials could be used, and how the heat would be extracted. However ever since fusion was proposed, scientists have been pointing out that it would produce much less radioactivity than fission does, and this is true, there would not be the spent fuel containing very highly active fission products that fission produces. There would be activation of structures in the plant due to the neutron irradiation coming from the plasma undergoing fusion. There are also consequences from needing to produce the tritium fuel, which is a dangerous substance to human health. So it all depends on future progress with ITER and further test rigs, but at the moment it is academic since it is very unlikely to happen within this century.


Why is fusion important?

Fusion is important because it has the potential to provide a nearly limitless source of clean and sustainable energy. It does not produce greenhouse gas emissions or long-lived radioactive waste, making it a promising alternative to fossil fuels. Additionally, fusion reactions use abundant sources of fuel, such as hydrogen isotopes, which makes it a viable long-term energy solution.


What does nuclear waste contain?

nuclear waste contains about 90 % of nuclear fuel but it is much harmful then nuclear itself.


Does lightning produce more power than nuclear fusion?

No, nuclear fusion produces vastly more power than lightning. Nuclear fusion is the energy source of the sun and other stars, generating massive amounts of energy through the fusion of atoms. Lightning, while powerful in a localized sense, is a discharge of static electricity that pales in comparison to the energy output of nuclear fusion.


How much nuclear fusion is used to day?

None


Is nuclear fusion more dangerous then nuclear fission?

We don't know much about fusion as it is still very experimental. It will not produce the dangerous fission products that fission does, but it may have other dangers unknown as yet. Nuclear fusion has more destructive potential than fission. Fusion is the principle powering the H-bomb developed in the Cold War. Just to put the power of a Fusion bomb in perspective, it is detonated by a fission bomb half the size of the one dropped on Japan. THAT'S JUST THE DETONATOR.


Can you control nuclear fusion if he-3 is used instead of H2 and H3?

It is much safer and doesn't produce harmful radiation. It's a clean scource of nuclear energy. But to answer your question, I'm not really sure


3 advantages nuclear fusion has over nuclear fission?

The binding energy (Strong Atomic Force) released is much greater when fusion occurs than when fission occurs. As an example, that is why fission bombs typically have yields around 100 to 500 kilotons of equivalent TNT, while fusion bombs typically have yields in the 25 to 50 megaton range. The problem is that fusion requires a lot of energy to initiate - in fact, most fusion bombs use a fission bomb to set them off.


What is main disadvantage of fusion?

It requires almost as much energy to create nuclear fusion as the energy it creates. :)