Chapter 564: Where to build the factory is a problem
The key to successfully separating high-purity deuterium from a mixed gas is to separate the gases by utilizing the difference in apparent volume between deuterium and hydrogen in the quantum state.
This new porous cage-like material can select deuterium from a mixed gas and adsorb it in large quantities. It is the lowest cost and most efficient way to separate deuterium.
Once this direction is proven to be successful, the problem of fuel purification for controlled nuclear fusion will be completely solved, and the commercialization of controlled nuclear fusion will continue to move forward.
After successfully preparing this new porous cage material, Xu You, Lin Shi and others conducted a deuterium gas separation experiment and successfully proved that the substance does have the ability to adsorb deuterium gas.
"Teacher, you are truly amazing. Your inference has come true once again!"
After completing this demonstration experiment, Lin Shi couldn't help but admire Xu You in his heart.
Lin Shi is not a person who likes flattery. The reason why she admires Xu You so much is really from the bottom of her heart.
Even though the experiment was successful, Lin Shi still couldn't fully understand Xu You's entire idea.
If it were Lin Shi herself, even with such a strong foundation in quantum physics, it would be difficult for her to directly predict the structure of porous cage-like materials based on this knowledge.
"It's nothing. When you have a solid enough knowledge reserve and a keen enough scientific research sense, you can also complete these tasks. Well, next we need to discuss the optimal quantum screening conditions."
The ability of the new porous cage material to adsorb deuterium gas has been confirmed, but the work on this topic is far from over.
We also need to find the most suitable conditions so that the porous cage-like material can exert the strongest adsorption capacity.
After looking through the experimental data from the past few days, Lin Shi replied to Xu You:
"According to the theory of quantum screening, the factors that affect the effect of quantum screening are mainly temperature, pressure, and the pore size of the material. However, as for the pore size of the material, you should have calculated it in advance."
Lin Shi knew that among these conditions, the most important one was the pore size of the material.
If the pore size of the material is not appropriate, it will not be able to adsorb deuterium and have no effect on hydrogen at the same time.
Xu You nodded upon hearing this and said:
"Yes, as for the pore size of the material, I chose this special porous cage material after careful calculation. As for the most suitable deuterium adsorption conditions, theoretically they can also be predicted based on the formula."
After hearing what Xu You said, Lin Shi also reacted and said quickly:
"Teacher, do you mean to determine the most suitable temperature range based on the function of de Broglie wavelength and temperature?"
"That's right. First determine a temperature range, and then conduct experiments within this range. Including the experiments we have done in the past few days, in fact, the most experiments have been conducted within this temperature range."
"I see. No wonder the material has a better ability to adsorb deuterium within this temperature range. I thought it was just a coincidence before, but it turns out you had already calculated it."
Xu You smiled slightly as a response to Lin Shi.
…
After completing the research project on deuterium gas purification, Xu You and other national strategic scientists discussed the application direction of controlled nuclear fusion.
Among them, the issues discussed mainly include the location of the construction of commercial controlled nuclear fusion equipment, the various future applications of controlled nuclear fusion, etc.
Because there are so many issues involved, every word everyone says is carefully considered.
Faced with heavy pressure, Xu You was not afraid at all. He was the first to stand up and express his views.
"I suggest that the site for our first commercial controlled nuclear fusion plant be chosen in the eastern coastal areas of northern Hebei Province or eastern Shandong Province."
After hearing Xu You's point of view, everyone's expressions became very serious.
Xu You's choice of address is similar to that of some people.
However, everyone also wants to know, apart from the choice of position itself, what .
"The first reason is that the raw materials such as deuterium and tritium needed for nuclear fusion are extracted from seawater. In order to save the transportation cost of seawater, it is best to locate the factory in the coastal area."
Basically, everyone has no objection to this reason, and this is also one of the reasons that must be considered when building a controlled nuclear fusion plant.
"The second reason is that building a factory requires a large area of land, so we cannot choose an area where land is too expensive. At the same time, the industrial level of the area must also be relatively developed."
"The third reason is that after the controlled nuclear fusion plant is built, I hope to give priority to solving the water shortage problem in North China. With sufficient energy, seawater desalination becomes an extremely low-cost project..."
Xu You stated his views one by one, some of which were things that everyone had thought of before, and some that no one had thought of before.
However, after Xu You explained the reasons for his choice, no one had any objections.
After completing the discussion on site selection, everyone then discussed the application direction of controlled nuclear fusion technology.
"I just heard Professor Xu say that you hope to give priority to solving the water shortage problem in North China after the factory is built. This is indeed a major issue concerning people's livelihood, but in addition to this application direction, we have many more important directions for application."
Simply using controlled nuclear fusion to desalinate seawater is obviously a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
After hearing this question, Xu You replied calmly:
"Professor Wang is right. Solving the desalination problem is not a very disruptive application, because even without the technology of controlled nuclear fusion, some countries are carrying out desalination projects. I certainly have many more innovative applications, but they may bring some problems that are difficult to control."
"Professor Xu, please speak."
"Controlled nuclear fusion can theoretically bring us nearly unlimited energy, but before we use this technology recklessly, we must consider some of the consequences it may bring. The most important of these is global warming."
After hearing Xu You's point of view, everyone fell into silence.
"The popularization of controlled nuclear fusion technology can reduce the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. From this perspective, it seems that the greenhouse effect can be alleviated. However, at the same time, sufficient energy will inevitably bring about an increase in heat, and the heating effect caused by this heat may be more serious than the greenhouse effect."
