Fusion Energy Calculator Form
Example Data Table
| Reaction | Fuel Mass | Utilization | Purity | Pulse | Efficiency | Availability | Plasma Temp | Volume | Ion Density | Confinement | Thermal Energy | Electric Energy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-T | 25 mg | 30% | 95% | 6 s | 37% | 78% | 15 keV | 5 m³ | 3.5 ×10²⁰ ions/m³ | 90 ms | ≈ 2,405.35 MJ | ≈ 247.22 kWh |
This row is an educational example using simplified energetics, fixed conversion efficiency, and stated usable fuel assumptions.
Formula Used
This calculator focuses on reaction energetics, mass defect, power conversion, and confinement indicators for common fusion fuel pairs.
Usable fuel mass = Total fuel mass × Utilization × Purity
Reactant pair moles = Usable fuel mass / Reactant molar mass
Total reactions = Reactant pair moles × Avogadro’s number
Energy per reaction = Reaction energy (MeV) × 10⁶ × 1.602176634×10⁻¹⁹
Thermal energy = Total reactions × Energy per reaction
Electric energy = Thermal energy × Thermal efficiency
Average power = Energy / Pulse duration
Power density = Thermal power / Plasma volume
Confinement product = Ion density × Confinement time
Mass defect % = Thermal energy ÷ (usable fuel mass × c²) × 100
Assumptions: complete reaction of stated usable fuel, fixed conversion efficiency, no recirculating plant loads, and no detailed radiation transport or blanket modeling.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select the fusion reaction that best matches your scenario.
- Enter total mixed fuel mass in milligrams.
- Set usable fuel factors with utilization and isotopic purity.
- Enter pulse duration, plant efficiency, and availability.
- Add plasma temperature, volume, density, and confinement time.
- Press the calculate button to display results above the form.
- Review the metrics table, Plotly graph, and export options.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) What does this calculator estimate?
It estimates usable fuel mass, reaction count, thermal energy, electric energy, power, power density, confinement product, mass defect, and annual electric output from simplified fusion inputs.
2) Why are fusion energy results so large?
Fusion converts a small fraction of mass into energy. Even milligram-scale fuel can release large energy because Einstein’s mass–energy relationship is enormous.
3) Does plasma temperature change total reaction energy?
The reaction energy per successful event stays fixed for a chosen fuel pair. Temperature mostly affects how readily reactions occur, not the energy released per reaction.
4) Is this suitable for reactor design?
No. It is an educational screening tool. Real reactor design also needs cross-sections, transport losses, blanket capture, recirculating power, structural limits, and safety analysis.
5) What does isotopic purity mean here?
Purity represents the fraction of entered fuel that actually matches the selected fusion reactants. Lower purity reduces usable mass and lowers all downstream energy estimates.
6) What is the confinement product used for?
It combines density and confinement time into one indicator. Higher values generally support more opportunities for fusion reactions within the plasma volume.
7) Why separate charged and neutron energy?
Charged particles can sometimes be confined or directly converted more easily, while neutron energy usually needs blanket capture and creates materials challenges.
8) What does annual electric output assume?
It assumes the computed average electric power can be maintained across the entered availability factor for a full year, which is an idealized operating estimate.