Production of synthetic fuels - An important civilian application of laser fusion
Abstract
It is suggested that direct utilization of fusion radiations to generate hydrogen/methane can provide an effective alternative to the generation of electricity. In laser fusion the simple geometric arrangement in which fusion occurs in a small pellet of about 1 mm in diameter will produce very large fluxes of 14-MeV neutrons emanating in all directions. These energetic neutrons can interact with chemical systems in a radiolysis process, combining radiolysis and thermally driven reactions. Hydrogen can then be incorporated into methane for pipeline use or into methanol for use in automobiles.
- Publication:
-
Alternative Energy Sources, Volume 5
- Pub Date:
- 1978
- Bibcode:
- 1978aes.....5.2563M
- Keywords:
-
- Hydrocarbon Fuel Production;
- Hydrogen Production;
- Laser Fusion;
- Synthetic Fuels;
- Automobiles;
- Energy Technology;
- Methyl Alcohol;
- Pellets;
- Thermonuclear Power Generation;
- Plasma Physics