The concept of magnetohydrodynamic generators actually appeared quite a long time ago.
It is a device that generates electricity by using a conductive fluid, such as air or liquid, in relative motion with a magnetic field, based on the Hall effect.
Because the mechanical energy conversion step is omitted, its power generation efficiency is also significantly improved.
In fact, in his previous life, he had envisioned using this technology to generate electricity.
However, due to the tight schedule, there was no extra time for in-depth research, so they had no choice but to choose the relatively simple option of boiling water to generate electricity.
But this time... he has absolutely plenty of time!
A hint of excitement flashed in Lü Yongchang's eyes. He reached out and grabbed a piece of white paper, laying it flat on his desk.
"Brother Xu, take a look at this plan!"
As he spoke, Lü Yongchang picked up a pen from the side, uncapped it, and began to draw directly on the white paper!
Seeing Lü Yongchang's actions, Fang Xu's eyes showed a hint of doubt.
This... is there any other plan needed for a simple method of generating electricity by boiling water?
With so many controllable nuclear fission power plants in Xia Kingdom, wouldn't it be easy to just copy one of their designs?
With that thought in mind, Fang Xu stepped forward and carefully looked at the white A4 paper in front of Lü Yongchang.
Looking at the straight and neat lines on the paper, Fang Xu's eyes showed a hint of amazement.
"Your drawing skills are amazing!"
Lu Yongchang paused abruptly, then laughed and explained, "Hey! I learned it by myself. Otherwise, how did I draw those simple diagrams on the blackboard back then?"
Fang Xu nodded with admiration.
This isn't something you can learn just by talking about it!
At least, he can't.
Let alone him, even among the academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, I estimate that very few people can reach this level of drawing skills!
The office gradually fell silent.
Apart from the two people breathing, there was only the scratching sound of Lü Yongchang's pen scribbling on the white paper.
"This is……"
Fang Xu's eyebrows suddenly twitched.
As the lines on the drawing gradually became more detailed, he realized what Lü Yongchang was drawing!
"Magnetohydrodynamic generator?"
Lu Yongchang didn't stop what he was doing. He chuckled and nodded, saying, "That's right! It's a magnetohydrodynamic generator!"
"In my opinion, this is simply the most suitable device for controlled nuclear fusion, bar none!"
Fang Xu's brows furrowed instantly.
After a moment of contemplation, he said in a somewhat heavy tone, "Yongchang, I know that magnetohydrodynamic generators have a very high power generation efficiency."
"However... magnetohydrodynamic generators have several fatal flaws, and this technology is not yet mature enough!"
"Wouldn't it be a bit too reckless to use it so rashly for controlled nuclear fusion?"
Lu Yongchang's pen suddenly stopped.
He slowly raised his head to look at Fang Xu, and shook his head with a smile: "Difficult?"
"Currently, there are only two major challenges limiting magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) power generation technology."
"First, magnetohydrodynamic power generation technology requires an inert gas containing trace amounts of alkali metals such as potassium and cesium as a working fluid."
"Second, the high-temperature environment under normal operation of the magnetohydrodynamic generator."
Am I right?
Fang Xu's gaze sharpened slightly, and he nodded gently: "This first one is still quite difficult to solve at the moment."
"We don't yet have the technology to mass-produce inert gases."
"With current technology, if we use a magnetohydrodynamic generator, even if the working fluid can be recycled, the cost will far exceed our expectations!"
Lu Yongchang stared at Fang Xu meaningfully, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.
"Brother Xu, are you sure we don't have the technology to manufacture inert gases yet?"
Fang Xu frowned slightly, and after carefully recalling the details in his mind, he slowly shook his head: "I'm sure that, at least as of last week, I haven't seen any related technology in China, or even in international academic journals!"
Lu Yongchang didn't speak, but just looked at Fang Xu deeply before picking up his pen again and starting to write and draw on the paper.
Seeing this, Fang Xu frowned even more deeply, a strange sense of irritation rising from the bottom of his heart.
He had a vague premonition.
It seems I've overlooked something extremely important!
But Fang Xu couldn't figure out exactly what it was.
"Yongchang?"
Fang Xu's eyes showed a hint of urgency as he whispered to Lü Yongchang, "What kind of technology is it? Tell me quickly!"
Lu Yongchang remained silent, but gently tapped the desk with the nib of his pen.
Fang Xu, whose attention was drawn by Lü Yongchang's actions, looked down at the white paper in front of him.
A line of neat penmanship appeared on the white paper.
1 2 H+ 1 3 H→ 2 4 He+ 0 1 n+17.6MeV
This is... the reaction formula for deuterium-tritium fusion!
Upon seeing this incredibly familiar reaction formula, Fang Xu immediately froze on the spot.
His lips trembled slightly, and a smile gradually appeared on both sides of his cheeks.
"I see! I see!"
No wonder he always felt like he had overlooked something important!
Having considered all external factors, he conveniently overlooked the most important internal factor!
Unlike ordinary thermal power generation and nuclear fission power plants, deuterium-tritium fusion itself produces helium!
Hydrogen-2 and hydrogen-3 undergo a fusion reaction under high temperature conditions to produce helium-4 and neutrons. This is practically high school physics knowledge, but... this academician just happened to ignore it!
Fang Xu shook his head with a wry smile: "In that case, the first difficulty has been resolved."
The smile in Lü Yongchang's eyes grew even wider: "Is the second difficulty still a difficulty for us now?"
Fang Xu was stunned for a moment, then suddenly reached out and slapped his head!
"Oh dear! What's wrong with my brain lately!?"
The new materials in the stellarator reactor can withstand the high temperatures of controlled nuclear fusion. Does that mean they cannot withstand the "low temperatures" of 2000-3000K when the magnetohydrodynamic generator is working?
Fang Xu became more and more excited as he thought about it. He put his hands behind his back and kept pacing around Lü Yongchang's office.
"Yes! Yes! Yes!"
"Helium can be produced inside a deuterium-tritium fusion reactor! And it's a gas with a temperature of hundreds of millions of degrees Celsius!"
"We don't even need to expend energy to heat it!"
"This is simply, this is simply the perfect power generation solution!"
Lu Yongchang chuckled and handed the simple diagram on the table to Fang Xu: "Brother Xu, see if our Sandaokou University has any talent in this field. If so... make a prototype as soon as possible!"
"We will strive to complete the first controlled nuclear fusion demonstration reactor within six months!"
Fang Xu was thrilled. He reached out and took the sketch handed to him by Lü Yongchang, and nodded vigorously!
"good!"
"Don't worry, leave this to me!"
"I guarantee that you'll see a prototype of the magnetohydrodynamic generator within two months!"
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