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Launch HN: Maritime Fusion (YC W25) – Fusion Reactors for Ships

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51–60 of 267 posts

Re: Launch HN: Maritime Fusion (YC W25) – Fusion Reactors for Ships

#51
> Fission works technically, but not practically. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) could power ships

It's not like they “could”, they do actually power more than a hundred vessels worldwide (mostly submarines, but also aircraft carriers and icebreakers (the russians have 8 of those)) ;).

Re: Launch HN: Maritime Fusion (YC W25) – Fusion Reactors for Ships

#52

Why specifically target maritime? Getting a stationary reactor to 25MWe at all would be an incredible feat in itself.

> we’re focusing on large commercial shipping (>10,000 TEU) and mobile military vessels to provide ship-to-shore power capability

I can't tell for sure what this means, if it's propulsion or a temporary ship to shore power plant. I suppose this gives them the latitude to target both. Or perhaps the idea is to get exposure to maritime shipping investors.

A mobile power plant might be useful for deep sea mining, or meeting seasonal energy demands for major cities.

Re: Launch HN: Maritime Fusion (YC W25) – Fusion Reactors for Ships

#53

> and we believe we’ll witness Q > 1 within a few (say 3) years. That’s huge. I think it fits squarely in the "requires extraordinary evidence" bucket - what makes you so bold ? Also, what's you intermediate plans between : 2025 -> Post on HN 2028 -> Q>1 achieved (by you ? by someone else ?) ???? -> ???? 20xx -> a ship goes to sea powered by a fusion reactor ???? -> ???? 2060 -> fusion is so easy, let's use it for ba…

The HN battery checklist needs to be reworked for fusion power. Arguably, even though people think it’s trolling to use the checklist, I’ve found it surprisingly educational each time.

Re: Launch HN: Maritime Fusion (YC W25) – Fusion Reactors for Ships

#54

> and we believe we’ll witness Q > 1 within a few (say 3) years. That’s huge. I think it fits squarely in the "requires extraordinary evidence" bucket - what makes you so bold ? Also, what's you intermediate plans between : 2025 -> Post on HN 2028 -> Q>1 achieved (by you ? by someone else ?) ???? -> ???? 20xx -> a ship goes to sea powered by a fusion reactor ???? -> ???? 2060 -> fusion is so easy, let's use it for ba…

Also, what's you intermediate plans between :

2025 -> Post on HN

2028 -> Q>1 achieved (by you ? by someone else ?)

CFS plans Q>1 for 2027 with a tokamak design. If they succeed then there will be plenty of VC for similar designs. I'd place my bets that CFS succeeds with Q>1. And I think the real problem will be the energy flux and neutron handling and thus much more a material sciences problem than a plasma physics problem. Thus the idea to look for a niche that has lower power needs is a very clever one. My bet would be rather on Maritime Fusion than Helion. But nevertheless, CFS will be likely first at Q>1 however there is always space for another competitor.

Re: Launch HN: Maritime Fusion (YC W25) – Fusion Reactors for Ships

#55
post #54

> and we believe we’ll witness Q > 1 within a few (say 3) years. That’s huge. I think it fits squarely in the "requires extraordinary evidence" bucket - what makes you so bold ? Also, what's you intermediate plans between : 2025 -> Post on HN 2028 -> Q>1 achieved (by you ? by someone else ?) ???? -> ???? 20xx -> a ship goes to sea powered by a fusion reactor ???? -> ???? 2060 -> fusion is so easy, let's use it for ba…

Also, what's you intermediate plans between : 2025 -> Post on HN 2028 -> Q>1 achieved (by you ? by someone else ?) CFS plans Q>1 for 2027 with a tokamak design. If they succeed then there will be plenty of VC for similar designs. I'd place my bets that CFS succeeds with Q>1. And I think the real problem will be the energy flux and neutron handling and thus much more a material sciences problem than a plasma physics p…

Exactly this !!

Re: Launch HN: Maritime Fusion (YC W25) – Fusion Reactors for Ships

#57

What is the feedback from actual prospective clients? Did YC ask mostly about feasibility, or were they more interested in the customer's opinion?

The customers are interested, there's really no slam dunk other way to decarbonize the industry, it's a super hard (and expensive) problem.

Re: Launch HN: Maritime Fusion (YC W25) – Fusion Reactors for Ships

#58
I'm just going to put this here. Someone please make this a reality.

### *"Tokamak Sailor"* (To the tune of "Drunken Sailor")

*(Verse 1)* What shall we do with a tokamak sailor? What shall we do with a tokamak sailor? What shall we do with a tokamak sailor? Early in the mornin'!

*(Chorus)* *Ho, ho! Fire up the plasma!* *Ho, ho! Fire up the plasma!* *Ho, ho! Fire up the plasma!* *Fusion in the mornin'!*

*(Verse 2)* Raise the coils and heat up the torus! Raise the coils and heat up the torus! Raise the coils and heat up the torus! Early in the mornin'!

(Chorus repeats)

*(Verse 3)* Confine the plasma, don't let it scatter! Confine the plasma, don't let it scatter! Confine the plasma, don’t let it scatter! Early in the mornin'!

(Chorus repeats)

*(Verse 4)* Sail with the power of fusion glory! Sail with the power of fusion glory! Sail with the power of fusion glory! Early in the mornin'!

(Final Chorus, extra loud!) *Ho, ho! Fire up the plasma!* *Ho, ho! Fire up the plasma!* *Ho, ho! Fire up the plasma!* *Fusion in the mornin'!*

Now all aboard the reactor ship, lads! Keep that plasma hot, and may the tides be ever in our favor!

Re: Launch HN: Maritime Fusion (YC W25) – Fusion Reactors for Ships

#59
post #53

> and we believe we’ll witness Q > 1 within a few (say 3) years. That’s huge. I think it fits squarely in the "requires extraordinary evidence" bucket - what makes you so bold ? Also, what's you intermediate plans between : 2025 -> Post on HN 2028 -> Q>1 achieved (by you ? by someone else ?) ???? -> ???? 20xx -> a ship goes to sea powered by a fusion reactor ???? -> ???? 2060 -> fusion is so easy, let's use it for ba…

The HN battery checklist needs to be reworked for fusion power. Arguably, even though people think it’s trolling to use the checklist, I’ve found it surprisingly educational each time.

Sounds interesting, could you post that checklist?

Re: Launch HN: Maritime Fusion (YC W25) – Fusion Reactors for Ships

#60

Why specifically target maritime? Getting a stationary reactor to 25MWe at all would be an incredible feat in itself.

> we’re focusing on large commercial shipping (>10,000 TEU) and mobile military vessels to provide ship-to-shore power capability I can't tell for sure what this means, if it's propulsion or a temporary ship to shore power plant. I suppose this gives them the latitude to target both. Or perhaps the idea is to get exposure to maritime shipping investors. A mobile power plant might be useful for deep sea mining, or mee…

Unlike what the nuclear Navy does today which is directly mechanically link the steam turbine to the propeller... we have the turbine spin a generator that creates a high voltage electric bus, which can than power a motor for propulsion. But you can 'easily' swap out the motor and tap off that HV bus for any other electrical load. Agree with all those other potential applications for mobile power at sea, there's a ton! Even disaster relief after hurricanes sort of thing, if the grid goes down we sail over and support.
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