Fusion Engine: A BattleMech needs large amounts of energy to function. This energy can be produced by Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) or nuclear fusion reactors. Though fission reactors could be used, several factors prevent their use: to start and maintain the fission status they need large amounts of fissionable materials (making them very bulky), they continuously release neutrons (which erode the surrounding material, making the reactor unstable after 30 years) and they produce radioactive waste.
Internal combustion engines work in the same way as normal generators which transform kinetic energy into electrical energy with a dynamo. The ICE is used by low-tech 'Mechs or vehicles needing small amounts of energy (basically without energy weapons), due to the amount of energy lost in the transformations (from kinetic to electrical and from electrical to kinetic, used by actuators). Also, they have a low autonomy and a low adaptability to extreme environments (like vacuum or very cold worlds), because they need combustible (fuel composed by hydrocarbons) and a catalyst for combustion (oxygen).
Fusion reactors are now the usual choice for all 'Mechs and high-efficiency vehicles. These reactors use deuterium and tritium (two isotopes derived from hydrogen), with 2 and 3 as atomic mass respectively. The nuclear fusion of the two isotopes results in helium, an element with an atomic mass of 4, a neutron and 17.6 MEV (Millions of ElectronVolts).
This engine produces energy from fusion-derived plasma, (a totally ionized gas - composed by electrons and nucleus only - with the 2 isotopes decribed above). To create the plasma fusion, this gas must be subjected to extremly high temperatures (millions of Kelvin degrees) and it must be in a high density status to reach the ignition temperature (the temperature needed for starting the fusion). Strong magnetic fields are required to restrict the plasma to a narrow section of the container (called a magnetic bottle) and make it thermally excited. This extreme condition allows the plasma to reach the high temperatures needed. These temperatures are too high for any known material to withstand them. The magnetic fields required are strong - 15 tesla at least - and the pressure induced on the plasma is about 300 atmospheres. The container that confines the plasma has a toroidal shape, where the magnetic lines are closed by themselves. This system is called Tokamak. It is constituted by a vacuum "donut" surrounded by a winding that generates a strong magnetic field (also with a toroidal shape) and soaked in a magnetic-necleus transformer. The thermonuclear fusion is realized by focusing high-powered laser beams on a mixture of frozen deuterium and tritium microspheres. The energy generated by this combustion, through fusion, is about 2*1014 Joules per Kilogram (200.000.000.000.000 JxKg).
In this engine, the 50% of the fusion energy is
represented by neutrons' kinetic energy. With this system it is possible to use liquid lithium to absorb the neutrons. This system serves two functions. First, it absorbs and carries waste heat to a conventional heat sink (or a system of them) and second, it produces tritium (the combustible material needed for the fusion reaction). It is remarkable that the produced energy is twice the amount of energy released by the fission of a single Kg of Uranium. The reactions produced in this cycle are the following:
Li + H = He + n
(Li: A=7, Z=3; n: A=1, Z=0; H: A=3, Z=1; He: A=4, Z=2)
Li + n = H + He
(Li: A=6, Z=3; n: A=1, Z=0; H: A=3, Z=1; He: A=4, Z=2)
Li: litium
n: neutron
H: hydrogen
He: helium
A: atomic mass
Z: atomic number
The energy produced is stored in a massive energy collector, controlled by a computer, which then distributes it to all systems. This collector has another, important function; it provides the energy needed to start the reaction if the reactor has been shut down. This makes the 'Mech completely independent from external generators.
However, even this technological marvel has its drawbacks: it produces massive amounts of energy, and the surplus must be dissipated as waste heat by heat sinks. This is necessary to keep the magnetic fields, that control the plasma, stable. If the fields are unable to control the plasma, the plasma will start to release neutrons. As in fission reactors the neutrons will erode the surrounding materials, making the reactor unstable. This instability will be noticed by fail-safe devices that will shut down the reactor. However, the release of neutrons will not induce a reactor explosion.
MECHBAY
OLD
12-24-00 WarhawkPPC
Internal combustion engines work in the same way as normal generators which transform kinetic energy into electrical energy with a dynamo. The ICE is used by low-tech 'Mechs or vehicles needing small amounts of energy (basically without energy weapons), due to the amount of energy lost in the transformations (from kinetic to electrical and from electrical to kinetic, used by actuators). Also, they have a low autonomy and a low adaptability to extreme environments (like vacuum or very cold worlds), because they need combustible (fuel composed by hydrocarbons) and a catalyst for combustion (oxygen).
Fusion reactors are now the usual choice for all 'Mechs and high-efficiency vehicles. These reactors use deuterium and tritium (two isotopes derived from hydrogen), with 2 and 3 as atomic mass respectively. The nuclear fusion of the two isotopes results in helium, an element with an atomic mass of 4, a neutron and 17.6 MEV (Millions of ElectronVolts).
This engine produces energy from fusion-derived plasma, (a totally ionized gas - composed by electrons and nucleus only - with the 2 isotopes decribed above). To create the plasma fusion, this gas must be subjected to extremly high temperatures (millions of Kelvin degrees) and it must be in a high density status to reach the ignition temperature (the temperature needed for starting the fusion). Strong magnetic fields are required to restrict the plasma to a narrow section of the container (called a magnetic bottle) and make it thermally excited. This extreme condition allows the plasma to reach the high temperatures needed. These temperatures are too high for any known material to withstand them. The magnetic fields required are strong - 15 tesla at least - and the pressure induced on the plasma is about 300 atmospheres. The container that confines the plasma has a toroidal shape, where the magnetic lines are closed by themselves. This system is called Tokamak. It is constituted by a vacuum "donut" surrounded by a winding that generates a strong magnetic field (also with a toroidal shape) and soaked in a magnetic-necleus transformer. The thermonuclear fusion is realized by focusing high-powered laser beams on a mixture of frozen deuterium and tritium microspheres. The energy generated by this combustion, through fusion, is about 2*1014 Joules per Kilogram (200.000.000.000.000 JxKg).
In this engine, the 50% of the fusion energy is
represented by neutrons' kinetic energy. With this system it is possible to use liquid lithium to absorb the neutrons. This system serves two functions. First, it absorbs and carries waste heat to a conventional heat sink (or a system of them) and second, it produces tritium (the combustible material needed for the fusion reaction). It is remarkable that the produced energy is twice the amount of energy released by the fission of a single Kg of Uranium. The reactions produced in this cycle are the following:
| Li + H = He + n | (Li: A=7, Z=3; n: A=1, Z=0; H: A=3, Z=1; He: A=4, Z=2) | |
| Li + n = H + He | (Li: A=6, Z=3; n: A=1, Z=0; H: A=3, Z=1; He: A=4, Z=2) |
| Li: litium | n: neutron | H: hydrogen | He: helium |
| A: atomic mass | Z: atomic number | ||
The energy produced is stored in a massive energy collector, controlled by a computer, which then distributes it to all systems. This collector has another, important function; it provides the energy needed to start the reaction if the reactor has been shut down. This makes the 'Mech completely independent from external generators.
However, even this technological marvel has its drawbacks: it produces massive amounts of energy, and the surplus must be dissipated as waste heat by heat sinks. This is necessary to keep the magnetic fields, that control the plasma, stable. If the fields are unable to control the plasma, the plasma will start to release neutrons. As in fission reactors the neutrons will erode the surrounding materials, making the reactor unstable. This instability will be noticed by fail-safe devices that will shut down the reactor. However, the release of neutrons will not induce a reactor explosion.
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OLD |
12-24-00 WarhawkPPC