AI software is being utilized in nuclear fusion development. The AI-based software module is being developed as a potential solution to identify complex containment field issues. Thus helping to maintain plasma, that resides in the reactor’s core, under control.[1]
This development is a leap closer to viable fusion reactors that produce cleaner energy than current fission reactors.
Just to clarify, there are two main types of power generation reactors being discussed here:
1. ‘Old’ fission reactors are currently in full use today. These use uranium rods and fresh water. The water is super-heated and creates tritiated wastewater in the process. The poisonous wastewater is a major concern, that is the main focus for many energy scientists.
2. ‘New’ in-development fusion reactor that uses plasma in a magnetic containment field which does not titrate water in the energy generation process. Another concern is to not use more energy in generating the hot plasma than the reactor output can produce. This is something that has been tested on a very small scale by ITER. ITER is currently working on a larger-scale test reactor.
The current ‘older’ reactors use nuclear fission with uranium rods. Part of the power generation process uses water which turns, otherwise drinkable, water into poison. The wastewater is radioactive for 12.5 years but will stay undrinkable forever.[2]
[1, Scientists May Have Tamed Fusion’s #1 Nemesis, by Darren Orf, https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a46973142/nuclear-fusion/?utm_source=pocket-newtab-en-gb, accessed 3rd March 2024]
[2, see below…]
