Any News about Polywell ?
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- Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2007 9:38 pm
Any News about Polywell ?
Anything? It's been years since Dr. Bussard passed on.
http://www.emc2fusion.org/
Fusion R&D Phase 1 - Validate and extend WB-6 results with WB-7 Device:
1.5 years / $1.8M, Successfully Completed
Fusion R&D Phase 2 - Design, build and test larger scale WB-8 Polywell Device
2 years / $7M, In Process
Your Contributions Will Help Us Design The
WB-D Polywell Device
Send your supporting contributions to:
Fusion R&D Phase 1 - Validate and extend WB-6 results with WB-7 Device:
1.5 years / $1.8M, Successfully Completed
Fusion R&D Phase 2 - Design, build and test larger scale WB-8 Polywell Device
2 years / $7M, In Process
Your Contributions Will Help Us Design The
WB-D Polywell Device
Send your supporting contributions to:
Phase 2 was supposed to be a year and a half to two years and began with Obama taking office. We are now at a year and a half down the road, we should be nearing the end of this phase.icarus wrote:http://www.emc2fusion.org/
Fusion R&D Phase 1 - Validate and extend WB-6 results with WB-7 Device:
1.5 years / $1.8M, Successfully Completed
Fusion R&D Phase 2 - Design, build and test larger scale WB-8 Polywell Device
2 years / $7M, In Process
Your Contributions Will Help Us Design The
WB-D Polywell Device
Send your supporting contributions to:
Actually, I believe it was ~18 months from the start of the contract. It started in September 2009. Thus they should know by ABOUT March 2011. I suspect they will beat their target.IntLibber wrote:Phase 2 was supposed to be a year and a half to two years and began with Obama taking office. We are now at a year and a half down the road, we should be nearing the end of this phase.icarus wrote: Fusion R&D Phase 2 - Design, build and test larger scale WB-8 Polywell Device
2 years / $7M, In Process
Wish I had the links, I'm sure someone can find them,
We've deduced in the forum WB-8 has a large probability of being up and running since April 30 (validation part of the phase).
Seeing as we're a little over 2 months from that date, deductively Rick probably knows how well the scaling works and a good bit besides that. This is under the assumption very little has broken or burned out unpredictably and needed replacing.
I like to think that right now or exceedingly soon there are about 10 people in the whole world who know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Polywell will revolutionize energy production.
We've deduced in the forum WB-8 has a large probability of being up and running since April 30 (validation part of the phase).
Seeing as we're a little over 2 months from that date, deductively Rick probably knows how well the scaling works and a good bit besides that. This is under the assumption very little has broken or burned out unpredictably and needed replacing.
I like to think that right now or exceedingly soon there are about 10 people in the whole world who know beyond the shadow of a doubt that Polywell will revolutionize energy production.
Pure supposition, but I guess that with WB7, EMC2 was testing plasmas in January, but it was April or May before they did fusion. That is about 3-4 months between when they had the machine up and running, and the time where they were willing to push to fusion testing. I suspect WB 8 is even more complex, and needs even more preliminary testing and tweaking before advancing to fusion, which presumably is the last tests on their itinerary. So, I doubt they have reached firm conclusions yet, but a couple of months from now...
On the other hand, the actual fusion results are probably anticlimactic. The answers will come mostly from answering plasma density, loss, and thermalization questions.
Dan Tibbets
On the other hand, the actual fusion results are probably anticlimactic. The answers will come mostly from answering plasma density, loss, and thermalization questions.
Dan Tibbets
To error is human... and I'm very human.
The precedent set in the schedule of WB-7 of 3-4 months before first fusion isn't really applicable to WB-8 IMO as the machine was totally new to all the operators aka WB-8 is now the second polywell RNebel has worked on making it probably significantly easier to work on. I suppose the counter argument could be made that WB-8 is also more complex than WB-7 so 3-4 months is still real. Tough to say.
I should clarify my statements are best case scenario idealist speculation while still aiming to be realist (grain of salt too because I'm no expert). Sorry if that's unclear before now.
I should clarify my statements are best case scenario idealist speculation while still aiming to be realist (grain of salt too because I'm no expert). Sorry if that's unclear before now.
Actually, WB-7.1 was constructed after WB-7. IMWO it is a small version of WB-8 and used the same chamber as WB-8. I think there is a chance for a quick start up with all the diagnostics already performed on 7.1, there could be smooth sailing provided WB-8 offers no surprises. I have to remind myself though that the reason for doing the test is to unearth surprises. Hopefully, any surprises are good ones. I am holding out for a Christmas present. So, that is my rosy scenario...bennmann wrote:The precedent set in the schedule of WB-7 of 3-4 months before first fusion isn't really applicable to WB-8 IMO as the machine was totally new to all the operators aka WB-8 is now the second polywell RNebel has worked on making it probably significantly easier to work on. I suppose the counter argument could be made that WB-8 is also more complex than WB-7 so 3-4 months is still real. Tough to say.
Counting the days to commercial fusion. It is not that long now.
I have no idea, given every indication recently, why you guys seem to think we will hear anything anytime soon?
Bussard was silenced for 15 years, effectively, and he really didn't have that much to report besides "we are working on a new twist on an IEC fusion concept".
If this contract goes to phase 3 we probably won't hear anything until 2015-18 at the earliest.
Bussard was silenced for 15 years, effectively, and he really didn't have that much to report besides "we are working on a new twist on an IEC fusion concept".
If this contract goes to phase 3 we probably won't hear anything until 2015-18 at the earliest.