Fusion Power is now possible within 2 years.

For those not yet familiar with Inertial Electrostatic Confinement Fusion, please go here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1996321846673788606

The Polywell reactor team recently has achieved all the goals set out by Dr. Bussard and proved the break-even capability of ICF. You will not see a large media announcement since it was funded under a military research program and must be independently validated before being disclosed.

I would propose under the Pickens Plan, that this technology be brought into the commercial space and the engineering scaling and development work be funded immediately and accelerated. Keep in mind this program has received a grand total of about $30 million in funding through its history, nowhere near the the $22 billion wasted by the DOE on the Tokamak Fusion reactor which will never achieve break-even.

My company has critical materials technology which can make the scaling of this energy source viable within 2 years.

Tags: fusion, power

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Permalink Reply by Wayne Baimbridge on July 23, 2008 at 5:29am: Interesting Robert,

I'll read up on more of this and share the video with my friends. In the meantime if you have any other supporting links that will aid in my "laymen's" information gathering efforts so that I can make an informed conclusion about my support of this technology I would appreciate passing them on.

Best regards,

Wayne Baimbridge; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Wisner on July 23, 2008 at 7:53am: Wayne,

Here is a good bit of reading:
http://www.rexresearch.com/bussard/bussard.htm

The recent material isn't published yet, but I will be happy to introduce anyone who can help to the Polywell Team and they can present in person.

Cheers,

Rob; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Wisner on July 27, 2008 at 3:47pm: Hopefully this week we will be starting the superconductor efforts!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Cheryl Jackson on July 27, 2008 at 5:49pm: Great! I just watched the video with Dr. Bussard and it is a fascinating project. As Dr. Brussard said if we, in the United States, don't fund the program China, Venezuela, or even Mexico will. However, it needs to be completely funded for five or more years in order to get the engineering experts required. His team has done the physics now someone needs to show the worth and of value for the commercial sector to provide their best and brightest engineers.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Wisner on July 28, 2008 at 8:46am: Well, we are certainly going to lend a hand to make this a reality!
The funding is the hard part...although I think that will get easier as results are published.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by dan on July 28, 2008 at 6:28am: It already is available. Just look up inn the sky it passes over head about noon. ;-)
Good luck on the project all who are putting their time and energy into it. A very important step this one.
dan; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Wisner on July 28, 2008 at 8:54am: I agree solar is something we should have done 20 years ago, but if you can grab a piece of the sun and put it in a (magnetic) box, then you can make it more portable.
The 100MW Polywell reactor can be scaled down, depending materials success.
Imagine over-the-road trucks never having to refuel! That is a distinct engineering possibility with this technology. I doubt getting it to passenger car size is feasible, but truck size could work.
BTW, I calculated that you could power the whole U.S. for a year using 3 box cars full of boron. That's about $3000 in fuel cost.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Henry Palmer on August 6, 2008 at 10:01am: Robert, My physics teacher was working on a desk size fusion reactor. That was back in the 70's. They, science, has been working on cold fusion for years, your still using a material, ex Boron there is a cost. Anything that goes nuclear has a cost. We should have been building reactors all along, but people don't want hte waste. But they always expect the light to light when they turn the switch on. funny it only took us 40 years, to wake up.... Solar light and wind, reactor cold, hot, hydro, tidal. we are going to need them all. Please excuse my spelling.
Henry; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Wisner on August 6, 2008 at 3:11pm: Henry,
Thanks for the reply!
Please take the time to review the link I put at the top of this discussion regarding IECF using Boron and Hydrogen. The reaction products of this fusion process are nothing but Helium ions and heat energy.
This also is not cold fusion. It generates reactions that are extremely hot, but can be contained using proper materials in a vacuum.
Unlike nuclear fission, there is no waste and no potential for a runaway reaction if some control system fails. The system will simply shut down with no residual radiation and can immediately be serviced without special precautions.
As for cost, $3000 to power the entire U.S. for a year is pretty cheap...LOL. I put far more than that in my fuel tank every year!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reb S. on July 29, 2008 at 8:56am: Robert,
This is very interesting - I would suggest you approch one of our Technical Colleges here in Texas - TSTC with your proposal. They are very progressive and highly respected. They even operate their own Wind Turbine on campus - in West Texas that supplies energy to their entire campus.

Their team may be able to help you with a proto-type or have suggestions on how to introduce such to the market in the means of Technical training and implementation.

Just a suggestion.
But Best of Luck - it sounds like its a plan whose time has come - I am glad we have you in America!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Wisner on August 4, 2008 at 7:36pm: Rebecca,
Thanks for your comment!
We are, however, in direct discussion with Suzlon energy and Vestas, two of the top three wind turbine manufacturers, at the executive level.
We feel the interest is there, however capital is the shortfall.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Reb S. on August 4, 2008 at 8:44pm: Good for you Robert - I wish you the best!
It will happen - stay in there. We need your idea's and solutions.; ▶ Reply to This