Reply To: T-shirt designers unite and take over

[Brian H]

Aeronaut wrote: Nope, you have to join to read their content. What kind of comments have you stirred up over there?

Here’s a prezampul:

07-21-2009 7:13 PM In reply to
Re: Fusion solves all

BrianH,

I have a question. In your note you stated:

BrianH:
The most manageable “sweet spot” seems to be around 330cps (Hertz), which produces a steady 5MW power supply. [Improvements in cooling tech for the electrodes would permit higher cycle rates and higher output as time goes on, perhaps up to 25MW.]

According to my handy-dandy Wikipedia power comparision chart, that works out to be around the same output as a locomotive. Given this:

If the power output is, as you say capable of reaching 25MW then does the number of units required to replace – say a power plant (around 1300MV) exceed the cost of the plant it is destined to replace? How does this compare between Hydro-electric, Coal Fire, Gas Fire, and Nuclear?

Kind regards
Roo

07-21-2009 11:34 PM In reply to

* BrianH
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* Top 500 Contributor
* Joined on 07-19-2009
* Posts 4

Re: Fusion solves all

At the most expensive price point (5 MW), the cost/W is around 5-10¢. Power plants now cost between $1 and $5/W to build, depending on the technology. (North American figures; not sure what they would be in the UK or EU. I assume they would be even higher.)

The 25 MW generator would cycle at 1650Hz, and require much more effective electrode cooling. Assuming such a generator would cost twice as much (a very high assumption), that would reduce the installed cost to 2¢/W. However, it may be years before that becomes possible. In any case, the 5MW version is so much less expensive than any existing or projected alternatives that it wouldn’t make sense to hold off waiting for the larger cooling capacity. The fate of many/most existing plants would be to become “stranded assets” — expensive installations that still need to be paid for, but have had their income streams and economic justification removed by new developments. Attempting to keep them going would, of course, just be throwing good money after bad, much in the manner of most of the current “Stimulus” programs.

That enough stirring for you? 😉 :coolsmirk: 😆