Title :
Neutron-induced fission-fusion process for power generation and cold fusion with electrolysis
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Phys., Purdue Univ., W. Lafayette, IN, USA
Abstract :
A theory of neutron-induced tritium-deuterium fusion is described. The process involves self-sustaining chain reactions: (1) n+6Li→4He+T and/or n+7Li→4He+T+n, and (2) T+D→4He+n, in Li-D plasma or pellets surrounded by Li and other blankets and by neutron reflectors. It has been suggested that the excess heat generation observed by Fleischmann, Pons, and Hawkins (FPH) in their electrolysis experiment (1989) may be due to this fission-fusion process at room temperature. The proposed fission-fusion process is described in a more general context without the use of electrolysis for the purpose of suggesting new designs for large-scale fission-fusion reactors for power generation. The FPH effect is then described as a special case of the proposed fission-fusion process which involves electrolysis with a Pd cathode. Other plausible explanations of the FPH effect are discussed
Keywords :
deuterium; electrochemistry; fusion reactor fuel; fusion reactor theory and design; hybrid reactors; nuclear fusion; tritium; D-T fusion; Li-D plasma; Pd cathode; blankets; cold fusion; electrolysis; fission-fusion process; heat generation; large-scale fission-fusion reactors; neutron reflectors; neutron-induced; pellets; power generation; room temperature; self-sustaining chain reactions; Electrochemical processes; Fusion power generation; Fusion reactor design; Fusion reactors; Inertial confinement; Large-scale systems; Laser fusion; Magnetic confinement; Neutrons; Plasma temperature;
Conference_Titel :
Fusion Engineering, 1989. Proceedings., IEEE Thirteenth Symposium on
Conference_Location :
Knoxville, TN
DOI :
10.1109/FUSION.1989.102185