Fusion reactions using deuterium and tritium in a small Tokamak reactor have pro

Question

Fusion reactions using deuterium and tritium in a small Tokamak reactor have produced temperatures of 60 X 106 degrees Celsius for a fraction of a second. If this temperature could be sustained indefinitely, determine the efficiency of a Carnot cycle operating between a thermal reservoir at this temperature and the atmosphere. Suppose that a typical hydrocarbon fuel is burned in a traditional combustion process producing a reservoir temperature of 2500 degree C. Compare the Carnot efficiency for this situation with the Carnot efficiency when the reservoir is provided by the fusion reaction.

Explanation / Answer

Carnot efficiency of reactor =   1   - Tcold Reservoir / Thot reservoir

                           = 1   - ( 293) / (273 + 60*10^6)

                            =   99.9999 %   efficiency

Carnot efficiency of reactor =   1   - Tcold Reservoir / Thot reservoir

                           = 1   - ( 293) / (273 + 2500)

                            =   89.4338 %   efficiency

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