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Fusion reactor: Difference between revisions

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m (moved Deuterium fusion reactor to Fusion reactor: Made more general; besides, it has never been actually identified as such; deuterium may not even be its only source of fuel.)

Revision as of 05:33, October 4, 2011

A fusion reactor is a type of nuclear power plant that uses nuclear fusion for power generation.

Usage

The UNSC utilizes nuclear fusion reactors to a great degree, from spacecraft to groundside bases. Fusion reactors are used as a power source on United Nations Space Command warships. The reactor makes up the main component of a ship's primary propulsion system, known as a fusion drive, which uses vectored drive exhaust to provide thrust.[1] UNSC fusion reactors are known to use the hydrogen isotope deuterium as fuel.[2]

The UNSC has also mastered fusion rector technology on a remarkably small scale, as demonstred by the miniature fusion plants mounted on the MJOLNIR armor.[3] Despite their size, these reactors are extremely efficient; the microfusion plant of the MJOLNIR Mark IV was capable of providing power for 15 years of continuous operation.[4]

The Covenant employ a more advanced type of fusion power plant, known as the pinch fusion reactor, to power their starships and other machines.[5]

Real world

Real-world fusion reactors currently require more power than they release, so are not yet an economical means of electricity generation. Promising approaches include doughnut-shaped tokamaks, Polywells and laser-driven inertial confinement fusion.

List of appearances

Sources

  1. ^ Halo: Combat Evolved, campaign level The Maw
  2. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 275
  3. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 45
  4. ^ Halo: Ghosts of Onyx, page 140
  5. ^ Halo: First Strike, page 305