Can Fusion Be Controlled? 3 Facts You Should Know!

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Fusion produces huge energy much larger than fission. In this article, we shall discuss how the fusion reaction can be controlled with detailed steps.

Fusion can be controlled by minimizing the number of free neutrons in the reactor. By doing this, the further collision of neutrons is controlled and thus the further fusion of nuclei is minimal. It can also be achieved by using the neutron trappers and capture technique that can capture the neutrons from the reactor.

There are various methods to control the fusion reaction and minimize the neutron scattering and fusion rate that we shall carefully study further in this article. We shall also discuss how to contain nuclear fusion and how can the fusion reaction be bought to an end.

How to control nuclear fusion?

Nuclear fusion has to be controlled to avoid the supercritical stage of the reactor. Let us list some of the steps used to control the nuclear fusion reaction.

  • Insert the control rods in the reactor to absorb the neutrons and minimize the rate of neutron flux.
  • Use the cooling agent to keep the temperature of the reactor under control.
  • Keep the reactor in the cold bath to reduce the neutron velocity.
  • Reduce the neutron number and fusion rate to decrease the probability to fuse.

What Are Some Important Insights About Fusion Fuel?

Important insights about fusion fuel include its promise as a clean and abundant energy source. Fusion fuel, such as hydrogen isotopes deuterium and tritium, can potentially address the global energy crisis and reduce carbon emissions. However, challenges remain in achieving a controlled fusion reaction for practical energy generation. Researchers are actively exploring innovative technologies to make fusion fuel a viable solution for future power needs.

How to contain nuclear fusion?

There are different methods applicable to contain nuclear fusion inside the reactor. Let us discuss a few ways to contain nuclear fusion here below.

  • The high temperature and pressure conditions are produced by using ultra-hot hydrogen plasma at the reactor core.
  • The two nuclei combine to produce a large mass storing high potential energy.
  • The neutrons and He are the byproducts.
  • He decays in microseconds and the neutron fuse with other neutrons in the reactor.
nuclear reactor
Image Credit: Nuclear power plant by Frettie (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

How to stop nuclear fusion?

Nuclear fusion has to be stopped to terminate the production of energy when not in use or to prevent any chemical reactions. Let us see how to stop nuclear fusion.

  • Reduce the neutron flux in the reactor to slow down the fusion.
  • Insert the rod to capture the neutron and lowers the density of neutrons in the reactor.
  • Terminate the heat energy supplied to the reactor that reduces the neutron speed and the fusion process.
  • Keep the cell in a cold bath at a very low temperature.

Conclusion

We can conclude with this article that the fusion is controlled by using neutron capture and temperature reducing methods. The capture rods are mainly used to lower the neutron density by inserting them in the reactor core. It takes a huge time, depending on the reactor stage, to stop the fusion.

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