48 seconds. I predict a glut of helium. balloons for everyone

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[–] 22 points 2 years ago (1 child)

Fusion uses hydrogen and produces helium

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  • [–] 7 points 2 years ago* (2 children)

    They use liquid helium to cool the super magnets...

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  • [–] 10 points 2 years ago* (1 child)

    Sure, but why does that mean they must be losing the helium each time? I don't know anything about liquid helium and super conductors, but I know I don't need to replace my radiator fluid just because it cooled my engine.

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  • [–] 0 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Once used, it need to be cooled down to -252c to be reused. Not like a closed loop of oil

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  • [–] 16 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    Alright, did some research, first off you're wrong about this being the reason even if this was a plausible reason. The real reason is the ash and heat divertors failed.

    Second, you don't even need liquid helium for super conduction. Here's a few closed loop helium gas coolers that get to 10 kelvin. They need to be refilled on the scale of years, not from a single test.

    https://www.arscryo.com/closed-cycle-cryocoolers https://stirlingcryogenics.com/products/closed-loop-helium-gas-cooling-system/

    I get you care deeply about helium loss but this is the last thing you should be accidentally spreading misinformation about. This process literally creates more helium then it uses.

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  • [+] -9 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    I didn't say they did, just said probably, I'm just a stupid redneck.

    Oh and how do we capture said multi thousand deg helium?

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago*

    Oh and how do we capture said multi thousand deg helium?

    By cooling down the air that contains it until it's liquid, then distilling that. Actually a standard process though usually you freeze down natural gas not just random air, it's quite helium-rich.

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