Intro Aims and Objectives
What Is Fusion? The Fusion Reaction Pros And Cons
Creative Proposals Rationale Bridge Statement
Aims and Objectives The foremost objective of this document is to arrive at a considered and poignant creative response to the research presented. I aim to consider the user’s experience and present my research and proposals in an engaging and relevant manor. Please note this document in its entirety comprises my creative proposal. As such, my research presentation will be fit for use in any creatively proposed publication.
What is Fusion? To discuss fusion energy on earth, first we must understand what fusion energy is. Fusion is what powers our sun and every other star in the universe. Hydrogen subject to extreme heat and pressure, turns into the forth state of matter. Plasma. When in a plasma state, atoms become so fast-moving that electrons are shed from their nuclei. This allows the nuclei to speed up and repel other nuclei within the newly formed and positively charged (ionized) gas. Fusion occurs in stars with super-dense hydrogen gas burning at 20 million degrees Celsius. Extreme heat and pressure causes nuclei to move so incredibly fast that they overcome their magnetic repulsion and fuse. Every second the sun smashes 620 million metric tonnes of hydrogen together, converting it into 606 million metric tones of helium. This produces sunshine as a bi-product. Fun Fact: Humans are most familiar with plasma as fire. However 99% of the known universe’s mass is plasma.
What Happens in a Fusion Reaction? Hydrogen atoms under immense pressure and heat eject their electron
Nuclei moving at around 1000 km/s collide, overcoming ‘the strong force’ and instantaneously fuse into hydrogen isotopes. These isotopes collide again to form a new element, helium 4 and a Neutrino.
Each time these nuclei fuse ,the resulting nuclei looses a small percentage of the original nuclei’s combined mass. This mass its converted into incredible amounts of energy, proving Einstein’s famous equation that energy is equal to mass.
4
He
A Neutrino
Fusion on Earth There was one stubborn problem when scientists first theorized harnessing fusion energy on earth. Earth’s gravitational force is far weaker than the sun’s because it is much smaller. To balance the scales, the plasma temperature must reach 200-300 million degrees Celsius. However no element on earth could touch this plasma without being destroyed at an atomic level. Thereby the moving plasma must also be confined through the use of strong magnetic fields so that it is insulated from the reactor walls. This is what the Tokamak, represented to the right was designed to do.
Plasma
200-300 º Million
C
More than 10 times the temperature at the centre of the Sun
Токамáк
The Tokamak is doughnutshaped reactor chamber. Invented 1950s by Soviet physicists Igor Tamm and Andrei Sakharov. This name is an acronym for, toroidal chamber with axial magnetic field.
Magnetic Field
An electric current is sent through large super-conducting coils, creating a magnetic field that confines the plasma attracting it away from the chamber walls.
+ Positives
“Solve humanities energy needs for millions of years
�
If successful, harnessing the power of nuclear fusion will solve humanities energy needs for millions of years. We would only rely on lithium or sea water as a source for hydrogen isotopes. Nuclear fusion, unlike nuclear fission, does not risk a runaway reaction. It does not ‘meltdown’. It Produces negligible nuclear waste. Mainly, the reactor’s casing which becomes mildly radioactive over time. This equipment can be disposed of with short term safety protocols. Buried somewhere remote and left for a hundred years. Assuming a substantial net energy gain from a reactor, the fusion reaction can theoretically can power itself. Only occasionally requiring topping up with fuel. The nuclear fusion reaction produces helium as a by product. This could solve the problem of growing helium scarcity. The ITER project (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) is bringing together 35 different countries on a single unifying project to benefit all of humankind. Recent fusion ‘ignitions’ show a exponential improvement across all units of measurement. A nuclear fusion bomb cannot be detonated without a fission bomb. Meaning the same international arms laws apply.
+
“Fusion energy
will always be 30 years away
-
Negatives
”
In order to create a fusion reaction more efficient than the sun. We need to use heavier fuels than the sun. Creating such an enormous energy flux on earth seems intuitively dangerous. The sun’s magnetic field lines can randomly drift resulting in solar events or flares. The same principle has been observed to be true with fusion reactions on earth. Creating the ITER proof of concept has costs billions over budget and had its deadline is perpetually pushed back. The logistics and engineering problems for projects like ITER appear to be insurmountable. Its individual parts are being made from many different factories across the world. Political disagreements hinder progress substantially. Material sciences and manufacturing abilities do not seem to be advanced enough to make a fusion reactor at this point. The mining of lithium is required to create tritium fuel. This is a nonrenewable energy source. A weapon far more powerful than a fission bomb could be made. Murphy’s Law
-
Are we going to destroy ourselves with our own technological inertia?
Project Plan After completing some research, it is obvious that the pros and cons of fusion energy are of high importance to our future. I will be going into the creative development stage of this project with the aim of visualising and comparing these pros and cons. My idea is to proliferate understanding of this issue by establishing an unbiased, diverse organisation that provides facts to the public and vocalises all sides of the argument. This organisation asks the public to consider our long term relationship with our planet.
Logo Proposals Artists Advocating for Analysing Atomic Advancement Here are some logo concepts for an artist collective that disperses considered and engaging content relating to the importance of nuclear fusion energy on earth. The collective evaluates the known and speculative positives and negatives of fusion energy through the use of potent visual media. The alliteration is for much needed comic relief. 1. Inspired by 20th century modernist depictions of the atom. This logo also resembles a broadcast towervisualizing the collective’s informative voice. 2. Has a keyhole, alluding to unlocking the power of nuclear fusion 3. A coin spin. Using tracking to turn the AAAAA into a wave-like element.
A
A A
A
A A
A
A
A A
3
A A
A A
A
2
A
A
A A
A
1
vv
Front Cover of a Manifesto
Pictured is a branded cover for a print or digital publication produced by the AAAAA. The design draws upon some retro atomic age graphic content by Erik Nitsche for General Dynamics in the first half of the 20th century. The design depicts an atom’s electron orbit comprised of words- alluding the publication’s content pertaining information on the atom’s significance to society. The nucleus of the atom draws attention to the idea that fusion ‘IS’ inevitable, therefore it should be discussed and planned for now.
Alternative designs
Colourway variations. Subtle changes to the background elements. Using radial blur to imply strong kinetic energy.
a
A A
A
A
A
The simpler logo concept will be used from this point
Negative Proposals The following is a series of creative proposals intended to inform the viewer of a potential downside of fusion energy on earth. Impactful visuals should draw the audiences eye, but ultimately direct the audience to more considered content through the AAAAA. The design artifacts should suit a variety of digital and physical contexts, such as; YouTube thumbnail, social media post, billboard, or an A4 poster.
The Токамáк as a Donut
Here I am using juxtaposition to through classic iconography to relate to everyday viewer. I pose the question, “Is fusion the world’s most expensive donut”.
Alternate page layout design Using A as graphic element
“Fusion is too expensive”
Some would argue that fusion is simply to expensive to pursue. The public’s trust in Fusion energy has eroded because of its tumultuous history. As a result, today’s politicians are reluctant to fund the billions needed to create a proof of concept fusion reactor.
“We already have a sun”
There is a giant fusion reactor at the center of our solar system that has been powering life for millions of years. Some experts take the opinion that we should capitalize on this with solar energy technology rather than trying to create a star on earth. Others disagree saying that solar is not viable because of; scale, energy storage and unreliable weather.
A A
A
A
A
Positive Proposals The following is a series of creative proposals intended to inform the viewer of a potential upsides of fusion energy on earth. Impactful visuals should draw the audiences eye, but ultimately direct the audience to more considered content through the AAAAA. The design artifacts should suit a variety of digital and physical contexts, such as; youtube thumbnail, social media post, billboard, or an A4 poster.
a
It is a ‘clean’ energy source
Pictured to the left is a page design proposal for a positive aspect of nuclear fusion. Sample text used for illustrative p
A A
A
A
A
A speculative report by the Association of Artists Analysing Atomic Advancement
Eco friendly pitch
A more environmentally conscious look. Final artwork should have related copy as the background text
Bridge Statement This document has drawn guidance from all my studies. A chief examples of this includes my studies of constructivism from my communication design class. I have been heavily influenced by moderdist designers from the 20th century such as Alexander Rodchenko and Erik Nitsche. In my other classes I have also explored visualising physics so I had some practice going into this project. My Image and identity classes have informed my slogan creation and the usev impactful visual media.