Nuclear energy is the form of energy that the majority of the world uses. There are a couple different forms of nuclear energy, including fusion and fission. Nuclear fission is when an atomic atom is split, which creates a great amount of energy. Nuclear fusion is when two atomic nuclei are combined in order to create an atomic atom, which also creates energy. In this article we are going to focus on nuclear fusions. All of the ways in which they benefit society and the planet, as well as ways that it possibly harms it. There is quite a bit to consider when looking an energy sources, below are just some of the most important.
Advantages of Nuclear Fusion
1. Barely Any Waste
The only byproduct of nuclear fusion is helium, which is safe and non toxic. This is one of the biggest benefits of using nuclear fusion, rather than nuclear fission. Nuclear waste can be very harmful to the environment and to people, and nuclear fusion doesn’t cause this.
2. Unlimited Fuel
All of the components needed to create energy using nuclear fusion can be found or made. This means that you can supply a truly unlimited and sustainable energy supply using no other energy sources in the process. Deuterium is the main ingredient needed, which is distilled from sea water.
3. Simple To Control
Since you are fusing, rather than splitting, atoms there is a much lower chance of a chain reaction occurring. This makes nuclear fusion very simply to control and much safer than other forms of nuclear energy.
4. Low Cost Power
By far, the biggest advantage of this form of power is that it is cheap. Only costing around 3 cents per kilowatt hour, nuclear fusion energy is one of the cheapest that we have discovered.
5. No Green House Gases
The only byproduct that is created during the nuclear fusion process is helium, which is not a green house gas. This is great for the environment and our atmosphere because it doesn’t contribute anything to the global warming problem.
Disadvantages of Nuclear Fusion
1. Energy Input VS Energy Output
Extremely high levels of heat are necessary in order to fuse the two nuclei of the atoms together. This requires a large amount of energy, nearly as much energy as will be produced. For this reason, nuclear fusion energy is truly not plausible.
2. Expensive Construction Costs
The facilities, experts, and scientists that are needed to successfully run a nuclear fusion plant are immensely expensive. Along with these high costs, it also costs quite a pretty penny to harness the energy that is created.
3. Little Understood
Nuclear fusion is a very new form of energy, and the only way it would be truly usable on a large scale production is if cold fusion was perfected, which is a long ways off. The full scope of dangers and effects of nuclear fusion energy isn’t understood yet, because it simply has not been around long enough.
4. No Materials For The Job
One of the other big problems with nuclear fusion is the fact that there is no known material that can handle the extremely high heat that is necessary for nuclear fusion. Until there is something that can sustain the high temperatures, no future for the energy source is for seeable.
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Important Facts About Nuclear Fusion
