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mithril21 t1_j03qypa wrote

Since this process fuses hydrogen into helium, could the helium also be recovered in addition to the energy as a means for both helium and energy production since the Earth is quickly running out of helium?

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Robo-Connery OP t1_j03sw0e wrote

Unfortunately, similar to its magnetic brothers, this machine produces completely insignificant quantities of helium (Fractions of a gram).

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neodymiumex t1_j04kqk3 wrote

To power the US you’d need something like 7 tons of fuel per year if you were 100% efficient. You aren’t going to be perfectly efficient so in reality that number will higher, but we go through 32,000 tons of helium a year globally so the efficiency would have to be absolutely terrible in order for it to make a dent.

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