How do fusion reactors produce energy?

Fusion power is a proposed form of power generation that would generate electricity by using heat from nuclear fusion reactions. In a fusion process, two lighter atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, while releasing energy. Devices designed to harness this energy are known as fusion reactors.

Do fusion reactors produce heat?

In a nuclear fusion reactor, the hot, charged gas known as plasma reaches out of this world temperatures at 150 million degrees Celsius, or 10 times hotter than the center of the sun. Energy is also released in the form of energetic helium nuclei, or alpha particles, created in the fusion process.

What is the difference between fission and fusion reactions?

The main difference between these two processes is that fission is the splitting of an atom into two or more smaller ones while fusion is the fusing of two or more smaller atoms into a larger one.

What is the difference between nuclear power and fusion power?

Devices that produce energy in this way are known as fusion reactors. By contrast, current nuclear reactors release energy by splitting extremely heavy atoms (nuclear fission reactions). Fusion occurs in a plasma confined at sufficient temperature and pressure for a sufficient time.

How is water turned into energy in a nuclear reactor?

The energy released by fission in these reactors heats water into steam. The steam is used to spin a turbine to produce carbon-free electricity. Fusion. Fusion occurs when two atoms slam together to form a heavier atom, like when two hydrogen atoms fuse to form one helium atom.

How does conventional fusion power convert to electricity?

Converting fusion power to electricity through this path requires several energy conversion steps. The kinetic energy of the fusion products is converted into heat when they strike and penetrate the walls of the reactor.

How do nuclear fission and fusion reactions work?

In these devices, the energy released by the fission explosion is used to compress and heat fusion fuel, starting a fusion reaction. Fusion releases neutrons. These neutrons hit the surrounding fission fuel, causing the atoms to split apart much faster than normal fission processes—almost instantly by comparison.