Lockheed Martin announces a breakthrough in fusion Bashny.Net

Lockheed Martin Corporation announced on October 15 that they had made a technological breakthrough in the development of power sources based on nuclear fusion. And the first reactor is sufficiently small, which is able to fit in the back of a truck, could be ready for use in the next decade.

Tom McGuire, who heads the project, said that he and a small group of about four years working on the production of fusion energy in a secret laboratory Skunk Works, owned by Lockheed Martin, but now their work open to the search for potential partners in industry and government.

"Initial work has demonstrated the possibility of building a 100-megawatt reactor size like two to three meters, which can fit into a large truck, which is about 10 times smaller than any of the existing reactors" - said McGuire reporters.

In a statement, the company is the largest supplier of the Pentagon, said that they will create and test a compact fusion reactor in less than a year, and then build a prototype within five years.

In recent years, Lockheed has taken a more active part in the various alternative energy projects, including several projects for obtaining energy from the ocean, and it looks like an attempt to compensate for the decline in military spending in the US and Europe.

"Working Lockheed fusion energy can help in the development of new energy sources amid growing global energy conflict. And as shown by projections, is expected to increase by 40-50 per cent of energy use for the next generation of people, "- said McGuire.

If this proves feasible, the work Lockheed could be a key breakthrough in the area that scientists have long rassmarivayut as promising, but where is not expected until the emergence of efficient energy systems. Although now much effort in seeking to use the energy released during nuclear fusion, when atoms combine to form more stable.

"We can significantly improve the situation on the energy front," - said McGuire, also noting that Lockheed for 60 years engaged in research into nuclear fusion as a potential energy source, which is safer and more effective than current reactors are based on nuclear fission .

Lockheed sees the project as part of an integrated approach to solving global energy issues and climate change.

Compact nuclear fusion will produce far less waste than power plants operating on coal will be used as the deuterium-tritium fuel, which will generate nearly 10 million times more energy than the same amount of fossil fuel, the company said. < br />
Ultra-dense hydrogen isotope deuterium, is in the Earth's oceans, and the tritium is produced from natural deposits of lithium.

This suggests that future reactors will be able to use more fuel and can completely get rid of the appearance of radioactive waste.

McGuire said the company has made several applications for patents relating to their best! Developing, and is looking for partners in academia, industry and among government laboratories to advance the work.

«Lockheed says that they have the ability to complete the project, build and test the reactor for only one year, and then it will be possible to create an industrial reactor for 10 years" - said McGuire. Small reactor can power the US Navy warship, and eliminate the need for other sources of fuels that create logistical problems.

American submarines and aircraft carriers run on nuclear energy, but have large fission reactors on board, which must be replaced after a certain time on a regular basis.

"That's what makes our project is really interesting and feasible - is a timely solution to the problem of potential" - said McGuire.
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