Engineering 0011
R09
THE NEED FOR THE INTERNATIONAL THERMONUCLEAR
EXPERIMENTAL REACTOR PROJECT AND THE DEMONSTARTION
POWER PLANT PROJECT FOR NUCLEAR ENERGY
Grzegorz Piszczek (grp12@pitt.edu)
THE FUTURE OF ENERGY
THE ITER PROJECT AND THE DEMO PROJECT
In order to meet the growing demands for energy, a safe,
renewable, and reliable resource must be used. As one of the
fourteen NAE Grand Engineering Challenges, fusion energy,
being the energy source of the universe, is becoming more of
a reality as being the energy that runs our lives, and should
be further supported [1]. Even prominent CEOs in America
are saying that finding a new energy source is one of the
largest problems we face today [2]. Fusion energy can be
considered one of the best forms of energy because of the
ethical ideals it upholds. According to the code of ethics
given by the National Society of Professional Engineers
(NSPE), engineers must “strive to serve the public interest,”
while at the same time “hold paramount the safety, health,
and welfare of the public” [3]. Through its lack of harmful
emissions, abundance of fuels, and deterrence to attacks
from leakage and explosions, fusion energy may be the most
ethical and most beneficial form of renewable energy.
Fortunately, an engineering project being conducted in
southern France is currently attempting to take the first steps
in creating a process to make a commercial form of fusion
energy [4]. The International Thermonuclear Experimental
Reactor (ITER) is undergoing construction, and, when
finished, will start testing new technologies that will make
commercial fusion energy possible [4]. This kind of
technology, and even any kind of advances in technology, is
very important for the future, and is especially important for
aspiring engineers. It is very beneficial for an engineering
student to research a topic of interest in engineering to
further expand his or her understanding as well as create a
foundation to build upon for a career.
The ITER project was created by a group of nations who
agreed that a new, clean, and renewable energy resource
must be researched to benefit mankind [4]. Currently, the
U.S.A, The People’s Republic of China, Japan, the former
Soviet Union, the Republic of Korea, and India, plus the
European Union, are taking part in the project [4]. It was
agreed upon that, in addition to financial contributions, each
nation would give and share staff, materials, and research
with the idea that each nation would have the tools to
reconstruct its own fusion plant [4]. Located in Cadarache,
France, the site will be home to the ITER headquarters, the
Tokamak, research laboratories, and auxiliary buildings,
totaling thirty-nine buildings [4]. At the core will be the
Tokamak, where fusion experiments will take place. The
Tokamak is a doughnut shaped chamber surrounded by
superconducting magnets, Lithium-covered walls, and a
solenoid in the middle. Plasma, the fuel of the experiment,
will fill the hollow ring inside the chamber. The actual
fusion reaction will release enormous amounts of energy in
the form of heat [4]. A follow up program, called the
Demonstration Power Plant (DEMO), will use the released
heat as the energy source for an electrical power plant [4].
The DEMO project will be an add-on to the Tokamak
chamber, and will extract heat to create steam, and, through
a system of turbines, create commercial electricity.
ETHICS OF FUSION ENERGY
As part of the code of ethics of the American Institute of
Chemical Engineers, engineers uphold the integrity, honor,
and dignity of their profession by “using their knowledge
and skill for the enhancement of human welfare” [6]. The
use of fusion energy enhances humanity more than current
forms of gaining energy, i.e. burning fossil fuels, fission
energy. Contrary to fission reactions and burning oil, fusion
reactions create virtually no harmful wastes. The most
efficient fuels used for a fusion reaction are Deuterium and
Tritium, both of which are isotopes of Hydrogen. Deuterium
can be easily found and extracted from water, which there is
abundance of. Tritium is slightly radioactive and much rarer.
However, the ITER project solves that problem by
“breeding” Tritium inside the fusion reactor [4]. The
products of a fusion reaction involving Deuterium and
Tritium are Helium, a neutron, and energy. Lithium covered
walls react with the neutron, creating more Tritium which
can be extracted and reused [4]. No gaseous CO2, SO2, or
WHAT IS FUSION?
Fusion is the process where the nuclei of two or more atoms
combine to form a single heavier nucleus and release a large
quantity of energy [5]. This is the same process that the sun
uses to release light and heat. In order to start such a process,
an incredible amount of energy is required. Extreme gravity
creates the conditions needed for a fusion reaction to occur
in stars. At a temperature of over 100,000,000 degrees
Celsius, the atoms are in such an agitated state that they
overcome the electrostatic repulsion of like charges [5]. It is
incredibly difficult to reach the right conditions on Earth.
However, the ITER will have the capacity to do so.
Moreover, the ITER will go beyond reaching the minimum
conditions and will create more output energy than input,
energy that will be used commercially in the future [4].
University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering
November 1, 2011
1
Grzegorz Piszczek
NOX are released, and no dangerous radioactive substances
are released [4], [5]. In addition, no burning of fossil fuels
will be used in the DEMO plant, since its sole source of
energy is the released heat [4]. Even the site itself will be
made to the highest environmental standard, making the
least impact against its natural surroundings. The risk of
adding excess CO2 is completely done away with, as well as
finding processes to get rid of radioactive material.
Ethically, fusion energy is virtually the ideal energy source.
In addition to environmental impact, fusion energy
also has a very high standard of safety. Although a fusion
reaction involves manipulating nuclei, controlling neutron
projection, and capturing extremely high amounts of energy,
a controlled fusion experiment is actually quite safe. Unlike
a fission reaction, a very small amount of fuel is needed to
start the reaction, about 0.5 grams of Deuterium/Tritium
mixture [4]. Also, even though incredibly high temperatures
are necessary for the reaction, the entire experiment is finetuned enough that the reaction can be brought to a halt in
seconds [4]. The heated plasma cools down in seconds when
it comes into contact with the walls of the chamber. Despite
the extreme conditions, the ITER is a very safe and easily
controlled reactor that poses little to no harm to its
surroundings [4]. Moreover, a fusion reaction plant has very
little potential in being part of a terrorist attack. The ease in
shutting down and disabling the reactor is so great that any
kind of attack would be rendered useless. In fact, supporting
the ITER and DEMO projects and others like it may
eliminate the fear of any kind of nuclear leaks or explosions.
Ethic codes such as reporting to employer under
circumstances that endanger life and performing services
only in areas of competence are extremely important to
uphold in the field of nuclear energy [3]. Any mistakes made
can potentially endanger the lives of the workers as well as
the surrounding environment. Only highly trained scientists
should be able to work on the ITER project. Although during
the actual reaction the risk of explosions and leaks are fairly
minimal, the processes before the reaction must be
conducted perfectly, and it is imperative that good judgment
and high skill are implemented. These ethic codes serve as a
guideline for engineers to work efficiently with the
responsibility of keeping human lives safe.
ITER and DEMO projects strive to uphold the ethical ideals
listed in the NPSE Code of Ethics [4]. Part of the mission in
the American Society for Engineering Education is to
provide an education on the value of engineering to the
public [7]. Writing a research paper helps this cause by
educating students, who can give back in the future through
their work. By both keeping a professional outlook on their
work, as well as promoting the welfare of the public, the
ITER team has inspired me to continue striving for an
education in engineering.
IMPACT OF FUSION ENERGY
Resources such as natural gas and oil will inevitably run out.
Fusion energy is being made possible by the intricate
engineering behind the ITER project. Because the demand
for energy is increasing, a reliable source such as fusion
energy will be necessary. Unfortunately, it has been difficult
to find funding and support, especially here in the U.S.
Government funding and involvement has been decreasing,
and companies hoping to have nuclear facilities built are
waiting longer and longer before the government gives them
what they need [8]. Cost effectiveness, reliability,
environmental impact, and safety have the highest standards
when it comes to the ITER and DEMO projects. By an
ethical standpoint, fusion energy both promotes and protects
the welfare of the public. It is important that research is
supported for nuclear energy now, since it will be the leader
in energy in the near future. It is important that engineering
students everywhere take the time to research a topic of
interest in order to better understand the work and the ethics
behind their field of engineering.
REFERENCES
[1] (2011) “Provide Energy from Fusion.”
National Academy of
Engineering Grand Challenges for Engineering. [Online Web site].
Available: http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/8996/9221.aspx
[2] D. Stone. (Sept 21, 2011). “CEOs Urge Taxpayer-Funded Innovation”
The
Daily
Beast.
[Online
article].
Available:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/09/14/bill-gates-jeff-immeltchad-holliday-urge-taxpayer-funded-innovation.html
[3] (2011) “NPSE Code of Ethics for Engineers.” National Society for
Professional
Engineers.
[Online
Web
site].
Available:
http://www.nspe.org/Ethics/CodeofEthics/index.html
[4] (2011) “The Science.” ITER Organization. [Online Web site].
Available: http://www.iter.org/sci/whatisfusion
[5] (2011) “Technology.” Fusion for Energy. [Online Web Site]. Available:
http://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/understandingfusion/technology.aspx
[6] (2011) “Code of Ethics.” American Institute of Chemical Engineers.”
[Online Web site]. Available: http://www.aiche.org/About/Code.aspx
[7] (2011) “Our Mission.” American Society for Engineering Education.”
[Online Web site]. Available: http://www.asee.org/about-us/theorganization/our-mission
[8] P. Alperm. (Sept 22, 2010). “Nuclear Revival Falls into a Lull.”
Industry Week. [Online article]. Available:
http://www.industryweek.com/articles/nuclear_revival_falls_into_a_lull_22
787.aspx
VALUE OF RESEARCH IN FUSION ENERGY AND
ETHICS
As an aspiring engineer, I found it very beneficial to spend
time to research an engineering topic of interest, namely
fusion energy. For the first time, I have gathered information
from reliable sources and compiled them into a formal
paper, just like a professional engineer would. Picking a
topic in my field of interest has set a foundation for my
future career by giving me more of an idea of what it is like
to be a chemical engineer. In addition to the facts and
theories of fusion energy, I found it most interesting that the
University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering
November 1, 2011
2
Grzegorz Piszczek
ADDITIONAL SOURCES
A. Revkin. (February 20, 2008). “How Many Grand Engineering
Challenges are Really Policy Changes?” NY Times. [Online Web site].
Available: http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/20/how-many-grandengineering-challenges-are-really-policy-challenges/
B. Amadei. (2008) “Engineering for the Developing World.” National
Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges for Engineering.[Online Web
site]. Available: http://www.engineeringchallenges.org/cms/7126/7356.aspx
E. Rosenthall. (August 30, 2011). “Unplugging Reactors, Hoping Lights
Stay On.” The New York Times. [Online article]. Available:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A04E0DC113BF933A057
5BC0A9679D8B63
G. Hess. (July 18, 2011). “Spotlight On Nuclear Power.” Chemical and
Engineering
News.
[Online
article].
Available:
http://pubs.acs.org/isubscribe/journals/cen/89/i29/html/8929notw7.html
S. H. Unger. (2010). “Responsibility in Engineering: Victor Paschkis vs
Wernher von Braun. IT Professional. Volume 12 Issue 3, 2010, p. 6-7, DOI
10.1109/MITP.2010.94
“The Grand Challenges.” National Academy of Engineering Grand
Challenges
for
Engineering.
[Online
Video].
Available:
http://www.engineeringchallenges.org
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to acknowledge my colleague Michael Delash,
for offering guidance in proofreading.
University of Pittsburgh
Swanson School of Engineering
November 1, 2011
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