■
id
^ Geina
®a&m
Aeir car
a senior
jU theran
riculture
; two are
year.
■gw
have the
tion, on
director
id good
ilding is
he East
e in late
’ calling
irM explores use of tritium
Fusion process student’s goal
By PAT DAVIDSON
Battalion Reporter
lankind has progressed from
od to coal to oil and gas for
rgy, and a Texas A&M Univer-
student may have a hand in the
;t transition.
Irent Rice, a senior nuclear engi-
sring major, is looking into the
iperties of tritium barriers for fu-
reactors. Tritium is a radioac-
isotope of hydrogen, an ele-
mt found in profusion throughout
world. The research project is
t of the Undergraduate Fellows
jgram.
Fusion refers to energy derived
mthe bonding of atoms. The fu-
n process cannot yet be used be
cause of problems with three
things— density, containment and
temperature of the fuel. Experi
ments have been conducted that
have attained the required density
and containment of highly ionized
gas (plasma) at the heart of the fu
sion process, but never in the pres
ence of the proper tremperature.
No single experiment has met all
three requirements.
Rice is hoping that the three
problems can be solved with the use
of tritium.
In a recent experiment at Prince
ton University, scientists attained a
plasma at a sun-like temperature of
60 million degrees centigrade.
While meeting the temperature
an Pub-
e sale is
'5 p.m.
>uy new
V'
ss
federal
>f ques-
his job.
;st was
of duty
tie five-
, then a
a Tyler
n-plant
sbestos
er
tomey
ist two
Texas
of the
ourt o(
taking
irt up-
; attor-
instan
1
cution
nd an
tlity of
ilayed
id the
sages,
e the
id the
■sons.
ips to
ay in
home
dreds
is had
til he
i play
sville
J.S and Mexico
mergy amigos
United Press International
WASHINGTON — Mexico’s ambassador to the United States says
although the two nations are “amigo (friendly) countries,’’ two prob-
ems hamper good relations: natural gas trade and what to do about
llegal aliens.
Ambassador Hugo Margain said Tuesday he hopes the two coun-
ries can work out energy agreements more successfully than in the
last, particularly in view of Mexico’s new-found oil and natural gas
■eserves.
Margain spoke at the luncheon meeting of the National Energy
Resources Organization, an association of people interested in energy
:opics.
His speech was significant because of Monday’s announcement that
Mexico’s oil wealth may total in the hundreds of billions of barrels,
even more than Saudi Arabia’s.
Margain said the gas problem will be solved by Mexico using its
own gas, because of the failure of the two nations to come to an
agreement on financing and marketing.
The problem of the workers needs a bilateral agreement, he said.
Mexico will use much of its new-found natural gas to generate
lectricity, replacing oil that could be sold to other nations, he said.
Mexico hopes to increase its oil production to 2.2 million barrels a
lay by 1980, Margain said, and to 5 million barrels a day by 1983.
The ambassador said Mexico enjoys friendly relations with the
Jnited States, but he added, “It is very vulnerable for Mexico to have
inly one client — a good friend, but only one client. It is good to have
nany clients.”
Margain said the problem of illegal workers who cross from Mexico
nto the United States has both a “pull factor” and a “push factor.”
lexico hopes that in five or 10 years, “there will be no more push
actor.”
As for the “pull factor” of attractive wages in the United States,
bargain said he hopes the United States can eventually remove that
is well: “You know, you have a need for them (Mexican workers) or
hey would not be here.
AIR
FORCE
ROTC -
HERE ARE THE FACTS
When you’re discussing something as important as
your future, it’s urgent that you get the straight facts
. . .and that you understand them. Air Force ROTC
can be an important part of your future. We would like
to outline some of the facts and invite you to look into
gathering more.
It’s a fact: the Air Force needs highly-qualified, dedi
cated officers. . . men and women. It’s a fact: we need
people in all kinds of educational disciplines. It’s a fact:
we’re prepared to offer financial help to those who can
qualify for an Air Force ROTC scholarship.
Get together with an AFROTC representative and
discuss the program. Well give you all the facts. It
could be one of the most important talks you’ve ever
had with anyone about your educational plans.
standard for the first time, the scien
tists encountered problems of con
taining the tritium.
Rice is working on the project
with Dr. R. A. Causey, a professor of
nuclear engineering at Texas A&M,
and is attempting to solve that prob
lem.
Rice explained that tritium and
deuterium are the fuels used in fu
sion reactors. They are found in
plasma, a completely ionized sub
stance which can be compressed
with magnets. As it is compressed,
the plasma heats. When it gets to a
temperature of about 70 million de
grees, the atoms fuse and energy is
released, Rice said.
During the fusion reaction,
tritium is burned, so that more must
be made or bred, Rice said.
Tritium is bred in the walls
around the reactor called the blan
ket, Rice said.
H e said when the plasma is
heated, it gives the atoms energy to
go through the walls of the reactor
by diffusion.
“We want to keep the tritium in
side the reactor,” Rice said. He ex
plained that tritium is very expen
sive, costing about $2,000 per gram
to make.
“Since the blanket where you’re
breeding it is where most of the
tritium is, that is where you want to
contain it,” Rice said. So he and
Causey are developing an idea of
breeding tritium in balls with
lithium centers and pyrolytic carbon
outer portion.
He said the neutrons coming off
the reactions would hit the balls and
the lithium would absorb the neut
rons and make tritium. The neut
rons would go through the balls, but
the tritium would not. Rice said.
“So you’ve got this ball where
you’ve made the tritiuom coming
out,’ he said.
Rice pointed out that if the
tritium stays in the reactor, energy
is produced in exchange for the
money. If it gets out, you are not
getting anything for your money, he
said.
Tritium appears to be an expen
sive source of energy, Rice said, but
he added that energy costs are
steadily increasing. He predicts it
will be at least 30 or 40 years before
a transition to fusion reactors oc
curs. By that time, he said, it might
compete economically with other
fuel sources.
He said that there is an unlimited
supply of tritium and deuterium,
whereas oil and gas are running out
and there is not a limitless supply of
uranium, the fuel for fission reac
tions.
Rice said deuterium is found in
high concentration in the ocean.
Rice, an Honors Program stu
dent, said he got the idea for his re
search from Causey. Rice said Texas
A&M just offers one course in fu
sion, and that it is not required.
“I didn’t know any more about fu
sion than the next person when I
started,” Rice said. “But once I got
into it, I could understand fusion
because of my background in nu
clear engineering.”
“I really enjoy what I’m doing and
think I’m doing pretty well,” Rice, a
member of the American Nuclear
Society and president of Sigma Nu
Epsilon, nuclear engineering honor
society, said.
{ HATE DOING
LAUNDRY?
J Let Frannie's do it for you
{ Aunt Frannies
Laundromat ^
THE BATTALION Page
THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 16, 1978
I
RESUME SERVICE
Sell yourself effecfively. Have a
professional resume prepared by
BUSINESS &
COMMUNICATION SERVICES
Call 846-5794 for an appointment
23122
I«. CLASSIFIED ADS!
THE EUROPE CLUB
presents a talk by
DR. CORRADO PIRIZIO-BIROLI
Special Advisor for Economic Affairs at the Washington Delegation of the European
Communities to the United States.
“EUROPE and the DOLLAR
NOVEMBER 20, 1978
8 p.m.
RUDDER 302
FREE ADMISSION
Supplies for the
needle artist
707 Texas 846-0072
I
BONFIRE FUEL
from now ’til Christmas . . .
to help the Ags in their fight to
beat Hell out of t.u. . . .
40c
ce*-*
All Domestic
Brands
40c
9:00 P.M.-12:00 P.M
Daily
3600 S. College Bryan 846-3306
^iimiimiHmiiimiiwiimmiwHiimimmiimmiiimiiMimiiiiHiiifMiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiimiiiiHiimiiiimiimiimiiiiimiimiiim
It's Sound Centers Anniversary Sale-A-Bration...
Technics
SL-3200
Turntable
* Direct Drive
* DC Servo Motor
* Strobe Speed
Control
* Semi Auto-Matic
* 2 Full Years Warranty
^ KEEIMWOOD
$ 134 50
KT-5500
Tuner
$ 139 95
* 1.9uv Sensitivity
* 1.0 dB Capture Ratio
* Dual Tuning Meters
KA-5700
Amplifier
40 Watts/Channel
Less Than .04 T.H.D.
Power Meters
$
169
95
Hirsch Reports This to be the Best
in Its Class. (Nov. 78 Stereo Review)
with Super Savings for You!
SSKOSS®
"Easy Listener"
Stereo
Headphones
KEEIMWOOD
KX-530 Cassette Deck
Convenient
Front Loading
Dolby
Tape Equalization
iaaaaa an r * *
Plus A Free Tape
$ KENWOOD
LSK-200
2-way speakers
Incredible Sound From the Sound
Proteaeionals.
Reg 44.95
Now
$29 9s
| FALL GRADUATES — CHECK OUT THE CENTER’S
90-DAY DEFERRED PURCHASE PLAN!
1 1
3820 TEXAS AVE. 846-3517
1 II
(Next to Randy Sims’ BarBeQue)
b %
Layaways & Financing Available
% s
Free Delivery And Installation
’