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From: grl@charm.UUCP (George Lake)
Newsgroups: net.physics
Subject: Re: My "FUSION this decade?" this article
Message-ID: <694@charm.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Jul-85 08:45:24 EDT
Article-I.D.: charm.694
Posted: Fri Jul 19 08:45:24 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 11:47:09 EDT
References: <291@greipa.UUCP>
Organization: Physics Research @ AT&T Bell Labs Murray Hill NJ
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A note on "breaking even":

When I last looked, this meant that the plasma heated itself as
much as it was heated.  It ignores the inefficiencies of plasma
heating (I know, space heaters are 100% efficient, but they don't
heat plasmas) and the ineff. of converting heat to electrical power.

No one has ever collected energy from these fusion devices!

By way of prediction:  Fusion energy will not supply power to 
   the grid in this century

Brief reason:  the extrapolated plans for power plants calls for
      them to be far too large-- e.g. one plant to supply all
      of New York City is on the small side.  A plant of this
      size isn't feasible to be plugged into the grid.  It 
      is distabilizing to power generation (what do you do when
      it goes down-- cut over to other plants?  Then why build it)
      It is also not acceptable from a defense standpoint.