Reply To: General Fusion Inc

[Joeviocoe]

nemmart wrote: That doesn’t really answer my question. If we assume a 40% conversion efficiency for both X-Rays and alpha particles, is it
still possible to engineer a DPF power source? i.e., fusion energy output equal to 4x input energy?

Eric Lerner was asked, “What is the minimum conversion efficiency to be a practical power plant.” (paraphrased)…
Lerner responded, “about 70% for both Ion and X-ray”… but he is still confident that at least 80% for both is possible.

I really don’t think anywhere near as low as 40% is likely for direct conversions. Very few non-thermodynamic conversions are so poor.

*Photovoltaics are 20%-40% because of the type of photons that sunlight produces… a wide spectrum of frequencies. The material that reacts by letting photons knock off its electrons, can only do so for photons of specific energy levels (quantum)… thus wasting a whole lot of potential solar energy.

Most of the time, 40% conversion efficiency is because of thermodynamic limitations of Heat Engines… unavoidable.
Which is why this whole project is designed for Aneutronic Fusion…. not D-T or D-D fusion where most of the energy comes out as Neutrons that would be used to boil water to run a steam turbine.
Yes, it is much easier to get fusion ignition (because of the larger cross section)… but more fusion yield would be needed because of the losses downstream in the turbines. That also is the reason why costs would be high, and the physical footprint would be so large. (not to mention the radioactivity and danger of proliferation)

…
So, to answer your question… no. But the assumption is highly unlikely.