Nicodeamus
Honorary Master
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2006
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Up until now nuclear power has been generating by using nuclear fission, i.e. splitting the atom, in a short a small explosion is made and the heat generated is used to boil water which then turns turbine. All power stations work in this kettle like way.
Nuclear Fusion is what happens on the sun, i.e. heavy isotopes of water is used to fused, merged, together therefore generating a very hot heat plasma. This plasma is generated by using exceptionally strong magnetic fields. Experimentally this was done in Germany. The test has recently been confirmed.
https://www.sciencealert.com/tests-...s-massive-nuclear-fusion-machine-really-works
Now the ITER Project, based in Cadarache in the South of France is an attempt to try and replicate this on an engineering scale.
In short the evolution of technology works as follow: 1. Theoretical physicists postulate about ways to generate energy, 2. The hypothesis are tested in a laboratory experimentally, this is usually a 1/500 to 1/1000 scale. The third step is the engineering scale, making products work in a 1 in 100 scale. A lot of unknown forces and problems are encounter when you scale science upwards.
On Friday afternoon my bossed called me into his office. I asked him for about 2 months to discuss the renewal of my contract (I am currently working on the design of the Hinkley Point Power station in the UK). They couldn't get give me a straight answer since December and I was preparing myself for the shock that I might be forced to go back to South Africa in 2 months time.
On Friday he told me that they are happy with the hard work that I put in and they want me to start working on the ITER project, I don't have the specifics of what I would be doing yet as we will discuss the details on Monday. This means that I will be relocating to Aix en Provence as from April this year and will have an opportunity to contribute to what might be one of the most exciting and safest nuclear technologies yet.
I am only a civil engineer that did my masters in the design of nuclear structures. I am enormously grateful for this opportunity. I am going to try keep this thread up to date on the cool work that I might occur.
As a starter, here is a link to their website.
Nuclear Fusion is what happens on the sun, i.e. heavy isotopes of water is used to fused, merged, together therefore generating a very hot heat plasma. This plasma is generated by using exceptionally strong magnetic fields. Experimentally this was done in Germany. The test has recently been confirmed.
https://www.sciencealert.com/tests-...s-massive-nuclear-fusion-machine-really-works
Now the ITER Project, based in Cadarache in the South of France is an attempt to try and replicate this on an engineering scale.
In short the evolution of technology works as follow: 1. Theoretical physicists postulate about ways to generate energy, 2. The hypothesis are tested in a laboratory experimentally, this is usually a 1/500 to 1/1000 scale. The third step is the engineering scale, making products work in a 1 in 100 scale. A lot of unknown forces and problems are encounter when you scale science upwards.
On Friday afternoon my bossed called me into his office. I asked him for about 2 months to discuss the renewal of my contract (I am currently working on the design of the Hinkley Point Power station in the UK). They couldn't get give me a straight answer since December and I was preparing myself for the shock that I might be forced to go back to South Africa in 2 months time.
On Friday he told me that they are happy with the hard work that I put in and they want me to start working on the ITER project, I don't have the specifics of what I would be doing yet as we will discuss the details on Monday. This means that I will be relocating to Aix en Provence as from April this year and will have an opportunity to contribute to what might be one of the most exciting and safest nuclear technologies yet.
I am only a civil engineer that did my masters in the design of nuclear structures. I am enormously grateful for this opportunity. I am going to try keep this thread up to date on the cool work that I might occur.
As a starter, here is a link to their website.
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Women take all the fun out of things.
