Classical Values :: The DOD Looks At Energy Security

October 25, 2009

The DOD Looks At Energy Security

The gentlemen and gentlewomen at Talk Polywell have come across a couple of major finds. The first is a discussion of American energy security and its military implications. Energy & National Security: An Exploration of Threats, Solutions, and Alternative Futures [pdf].

Abstract - Findings of multiple Department of Defense (DoD) studies and other sources indicate that the United States faces a cluster of significant security threats caused by how the country obtains, distributes, and uses energy. This paper explores the nature and magnitude of the security threats as related to energy--some potential solutions, which include technical, political, and programmatic options; and some alternative futures the nation may face depending upon various choices of actions and assumptions. Specific emerging options addressed include Polywell fusion, renewable fuel from waste and algae cultivation, all-electric vehicle fleets, highly-efficient heat engines, and special military energy considerations.

Interesting (to say the least) that Polywell gets a mention in the very beginning of the paper. We have come a long way since the Polywell program was nearly permanently shut down in 2006.

The second paper is about funding for various quick reaction [pdf] programs by the DOD. The interesting bits are on page 11 of the document. Look at just how small the effort was in fiscal year 2008.

EMC2/IEF
Boron Fusion The objective of this project is to continue research towards a proven, validated, and reviewed and approved final design basis for engineering development and construction of full-scale clean nuclear power plants. Boron/hydrogen reactions are radiation-free and non-hazardous and well-suited to direct electric power applications to Navy propulsion, as well as to modest scale ground power plants/systems, able to be run without fossil fuels. Such power plants would revolutionize DoD power systems applications and requirements.

FY 2008 Accomplishments:
This project continued research towards a proven, validated, and reviewed and approved final design basis for engineering development and construction of full-scale clean nuclear power plants. Payoff would be elimination of the need for fossil fueled plants. Boron/hydrogen reactions are radiation-free and non-hazardous and well-suited to direct electric power applications to Navy propulsion, as well as to modest scale ground power plants/systems, able to be run without fossil fuels. Such power plants would revolutionize DoD power systems applications and requirements.

Things are picking up speed in the Polywell research. You can find out more about the latest funding for Polywell at WB-8 Contract Details and at WB-8 Contract Progress.

You can learn the basics of fusion energy by reading Principles of Fusion Energy: An Introduction to Fusion Energy for Students of Science and Engineering

Polywell is a little more complicated. You can learn more about Polywell and its potential at: Bussard's IEC Fusion Technology (Polywell Fusion) Explained

The American Thinker has a good article up with the basics.

Cross Posted at Power and Control

posted by Simon on 10.25.09 at 09:58 AM

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Comments

Here is the detail on Polywell from the paper - Energy & National Security: An Exploration of Threats, Solutions, and Alternative Futures:

4. The DoD, and especially the DoN, could benefi t greatly
from the potential of nuclear power. But nuclear fi ssion power
is expensive and presents ongoing safety concerns. A spinoff
from a form of nuclear fusion developed in the 1960s by
Farnsworth and Hirsch has achieved groundbreaking success
recently. This Polywell fusion device was pioneered and scientifi
cally demonstrated in 2005 by Robert W. Bussard. This
type of fusion can use boron-11 and hydrogen as the fuel. Fusion
of these elements produces no neutrons and no radioactive
waste. Estimated cost to build a Polywell electric plant
is less than that for a similar power-producing, combined-cycle
gas plant or coal plant. A gigawatt-sized reactor would be
a sphere about 15 meters in diameter. If all power for the United
States were generated with boron-11 and hydrogen Polywell
fusion, the total yearly requirement for boron would be
less than 5% of current U.S. boron production and would cost
less than two trainloads of coal at current prices for both commodities.
A single coal plant requires a trainload every day for
full-scale operation. The U.S. Navy could adapt such devices
to ship propulsion and free ships from the tether of petroleum
use and logistics. The Polywell device could enable very
inexpensive and reliable access to space for DoD and the nation
as a whole.

Kahuna · October 25, 2009 11:05 AM

Good news. I'm glad to hear that some people finally paying attention in the right places.

Eric Scheie · October 25, 2009 12:34 PM