{"id":11904,"date":"2015-12-12T00:23:32","date_gmt":"2015-12-12T05:23:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=11904"},"modified":"2015-12-12T01:05:23","modified_gmt":"2015-12-12T06:05:23","slug":"sci-tech-tri-alpha-fusion-opens-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=11904","title":{"rendered":"Sci-tech: Tri-Alpha Fusion opens up"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tri-Alpha Fusion, a spin-off from the\u00a0plasma fusion program at the University of California at Irvine, has been working for more\u00a0than\u00a015\u00a0years on an innovative design for a nuclear fusion power system. The company\u00a0has raised over $140M<\/a> in investment from venture capital firms and notables such as Paul Allen. However, except for occasional science publications<\/a>, it has been very secretive about its progress and plans.<\/p>\n

\"tae_image_update[1]\"<\/a>
After years of research and development, including development of multiple variations of C-2-style devices, TAE demonstrated sustained stable plasma performance in the C-2U device in June 2015, based on the use of neutral beams and electrical control of the boundary layer. Credits TAE<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>This week\u00a0the company, which is based in California, opened the\u00a0website\u00a0www.trialphaenergy.com <\/a>with\u00a0background info and goals<\/a> for the company along with videos, images, and graphics<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"C-2U_Device_Illustration[1]\"<\/a>
The C-2U machine is the world\u2019s largest compact toroid (CT) device. At 20 meters in length, a diameter up to 1.4 meters, and with hundreds of ports, the device routinely achieves vacuum pressures nearly 1 trillionth of atmospheric pressure. Magnetic fields with strengths up to 3.5 Tesla guide and confine plasma, while pulsed power systems deliver approximately 1 megajoule of energy in microseconds, forming and accelerating CTs to 600,000 miles per hour. Credits TAE<\/a>.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>Tri-Alpha is aiming to produce energy with a proton-Boron fusion reaction<\/a>, which\u00a0does not produce neutrons. \u00a0This requires much higher temperatures and density\u00a0than with, for example, tritium-deuterium,\u00a0the fuel\u00a0planned for\u00a0the popular Tokamak fusion approach. However, all the complications of dealing with neutrons, such as making the structural materials radioactive, are avoided. Also, extraction of useful energy should be\u00a0much easier.<\/p>\n

Here is the “corporate video”:<\/p>\n