The world's richest man started by developing gutter oil

Deep Blue Aerospace is already conducting research and development on the power issue.

For this purpose, Yuan Zhengyang even called Han Chen and asked for 1000 billion RMB in research and development expenses.

There are three systems to choose from in space. The first is the ion propulsion system, which is currently the mainstream system. However, the current technology is not very good, and the most powerful ion thruster has only 1 Newton.

You heard it right, it is 1 Newton. The thrust of 1 Newton is one kilogram. Don’t underestimate this one kilogram of thrust.

It allows Deep Blue's space mining craft to travel at speeds of 13-15 kilometers per second.

However, ion thrusters have a disadvantage. They require some kind of gas as an aid. Once the gas is used up, the spacecraft will completely lose power.

The second power system is the nuclear propulsion system.

As the name suggests, a nuclear-powered propulsion system is a propulsion system that uses nuclear energy as its power. Generally speaking, nuclear energy can be obtained through nuclear fission and nuclear fusion. In the long run, the prospects for nuclear fusion are much broader. After all, the raw materials for nuclear fusion are easier to obtain, and the energy generated per unit mass is higher than that of nuclear fission.

There are two feasible propulsion methods for nuclear-powered propulsion systems. One is called "thermonuclear propulsion", which uses the energy generated by a nuclear reactor to directly eject matter. Theoretically, the energy generated by nuclear fusion can make the speed of ejected matter reach about 1 kilometers per second, and its propulsion efficiency can be imagined.

Another method is called "nuclear propulsion". Its working principle is to use a nuclear reactor to generate electricity, and then provide electrical energy for the ion propulsion system. With powerful electrical energy, the ion propulsion system can eject a larger mass of matter per unit time. At the same time, the speed at which it ejects matter will also be greatly increased. The specific extent of the increase depends mainly on the power generation efficiency of the nuclear reactor.

Theoretically, a nuclear propulsion system based on controlled nuclear fusion is expected to accelerate a spacecraft to 15% of the speed of light without obtaining nuclear fuel from the outside world. At this speed, it would only take a few years to fly out of the solar system.

The third system is the photon propulsion system.

No matter how fast the two propulsion systems mentioned above eject matter, they can never reach the speed of light. The speed of photons themselves is the speed of light. Although photons have no rest mass, they have momentum, which means that we can use photons to generate thrust.

It is conceivable that if we install a light source on a spacecraft, then when it emits photons backwards, it can propel the spacecraft forward. As long as the light source is strong enough and can run continuously, the spacecraft can continue to accelerate, even approaching the speed of light infinitely. But unfortunately, in the foreseeable future, we simply will not be able to create such a powerful light source.

However, there is another concept of using photons to propel spacecraft, which is more practical and feasible, that is "light sail". "Light sail" is a device that uses sunlight or other strong light sources to power spacecraft. We can simply understand it as "light sail" is similar to our common sails, except that the pressure on the sails is wind pressure, while the pressure on the "light sail" is "light pressure".

What you need to know is that "light sail" does not exist only in imagination. In the past few days, scientists have verified the feasibility of "light sail" technology through many space experiments.

In addition, the Breakthrough Starshot project launched by Hawking in 2016 also uses this propulsion system. The project aims to use a laser array deployed near the earth to accelerate a nano-aircraft about the size of an ordinary stamp to 20% of the speed of light and reach Proxima Centauri after about 20 years of flight.

But even if you solve the propulsion system.

You also have to figure out how to clear obstacles ahead while running at high speed, and how to avoid obstacles in the universe while running at high speed.

If you can't solve this problem, the consequence will be a collision with a meteorite in the universe.

As the saying goes, there are thousands of roads, but safety comes first. If you drive in an unsafe manner, your loved ones will shed tears.

If the spacecraft is not large, this problem is easy to solve and can be solved through spectral scanning and calculation. If the spacecraft is large, a lot of considerations need to be made.

Even with the help of AI, this whole set of issues will take at least 30 to 50 years to solve.

September 2027, 2, China time.

The global situation has entered an extremely stable state.

Deep Blue Group Nuclear Fusion Research Institute.

Inside the control room, the tense atmosphere was almost solid.

On the display screen, data flows and light spots jump, telling the birth of a new world every second.

On the central control console, a woman in a white coat stared at the control lever in front of her, her finger lightly on the start button, her eyes firm and deep, as if she could see into the future.

"Start the cold fusion reactor." She ordered in an unquestionable tone, and her voice echoed in the confined space.

As the command was given, a series of complex procedures began to be executed.

Inside the reactor, countless microscopic particles began to rotate at high speed under the guidance of the magnetic field, like stars in the universe spiraling upwards.

Particles collided, energy surged, and a light that was almost impossible to look directly at was released.

"The furnace temperature has been raised by 350 degrees."

"Electricity output 1000 kWh."

"The furnace temperature has been raised by 400 degrees."

"Electricity output 1500 kWh."

"The furnace temperature has been raised by 750 degrees."

"Electricity output 1500 kWh."

"The furnace temperature is stable at 4000 degrees."

"Electricity output 80000 kWh."

Everyone couldn't help but swallow when they heard this number.

Time seemed to be frozen in this control room full of futuristic technology, and the air was filled with tension.

Everyone stared at the numbers jumping on the central screen. Those were the key parameters for the operation of the nuclear reactor. It was not just a cold number, but also a bridge connecting mankind's beautiful vision of safe energy and reality.

The success or failure of helium-3 cold nuclear fusion technology will be revealed at this critical moment.

People's hearts beat faster involuntarily when they think that this means humans will master the safest controlled nuclear fusion.

If this technology can operate stably, it will completely change the world's energy landscape, end dependence on fossil fuels, and usher in a new era of clean and endless energy.

The scientists and engineers present almost held their breath, fearing that their breathing would interfere with the normal operation of the equipment. Their eyes were fixed on the screen, fearing that they would miss any subtle changes.

The passage of time became extremely slow, and every second seemed like an eternity.

The lights in the control room reflected people's serious faces. A tense mood spread in the air. Even the machines seemed to be able to feel the tension, and the sounds of their operations seemed particularly clear and abrupt.

Three minutes passed in the blink of an eye.

It wasn't until a researcher who had forgotten to breathe and was gasping for air that he brought everyone back.

The researcher who had forgotten to breathe took a breath and said, "Did we succeed?" Theoretically, if cold nuclear fusion can run stably for 3 minutes, there will basically be no problems.

Another researcher responded: “I think so.”

Then everyone present cheered, some researchers burst into tears and sobbed, while some researchers hugged each other happily.

Some researchers who developed feelings for each other during the study even kissed passionately to confirm their relationship.

After half an hour.

Han's Villa.

Inside the cinema.

Han Chen was watching cartoons with his underage children.

As for those children who have reached the age, they have already gone to school.

Just at this moment, Yuetu, the housekeeper of the villa, walked in.

Yuetu handed a tri-fold phone to Han Chen and said, "Master, the Deep Blue Nuclear Power Research Institute sent you an email."

After Han Chen handed the child in his arms to his eldest grandson Xiaoxiao, he took the phone from her and checked the email content.

Through email, Han Chen learned that the Deep Blue Research Institute had successfully achieved controlled nuclear fusion of helium-3.

A nuclear power plant can generate 8 kilowatt-hours of electricity per second, 2.88 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per hour, and 69 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per day.

Maybe you have no idea about this power generation. Let’s take Taishan Nuclear Power Station as an example. Taishan Nuclear Power Station generates more than 1600 million kilowatt-hours of electricity every day, and 5.8 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.

That is to say, the power generation of the helium-3 nuclear fusion unit in one day is equivalent to the power generation of the Taishan Nuclear Power Station in 10 years.

根据统计2024全国平均每天用电量是325.3亿度电，2025年全国平均每天用电量是335.3亿度电，2026年全国平均每天用电量是337.3亿度电。

In other words, five sets of helium-5 nuclear fusion units can perfectly supply electricity for the entire country.

So how much does a helium-3 nuclear fusion unit cost?
According to the report sent by the person in charge, the cost of a helium-3 nuclear fusion unit is 6 million RMB.

It only costs 3 billion RMB to build a complete helium-10 nuclear power plant.

This cost is several times cheaper than the most advanced nuclear power plants currently available, which is why helium-3 nuclear power plants are cheaper than existing nuclear power plants.

That's because helium-3 nuclear power plants are extremely safe. Helium-3 and helium-3 do not produce neutrons during the fusion process, and will not cause radioactive pollution, so there is no need to invest too much money in protection.

Low construction cost, low construction cost and low maintenance cost. According to the data in the report, the annual maintenance cost is less than 1000 million RMB. In addition, helium-3 nuclear fusion can skip heat conversion, which also makes the cost of generating electricity at the helium-3 nuclear power plant very low.

Traditional nuclear fission power plants need to generate heat through nuclear fission, then heat water, use the water vapor to drive the steam turbine to generate mechanical energy, and finally transfer it to the generator to generate electrical energy. Each step in this process will cause energy loss, of which the energy loss caused by water vapor driving the steam turbine alone reaches more than 60%.

The helium-3+deuterium mode of nuclear fusion can directly produce protons, which are then directly converted into electrical energy. Since there is no thermal conversion, its energy conversion efficiency may be close to 70%.

The cost of one kilowatt-hour of electricity is only 0.0008 yuan, which means if we round it up, 10 kilowatt-hours of electricity only costs 1 cent.

Han Chen handed the trifold phone to Yuetu and said, "Please ask Shen Chengjun to come over right away. When he arrives, take him to the teahouse."

After taking the tri-fold phone, Yuetu said, "Okay, Master."

September 2027, 5, China time.

The China Development Bank, China Power Grid and China Deep Blue Nuclear Power Research Institute jointly held a global press conference.

A beautiful woman in her early thirties wearing a black suit walked onto the podium.

This woman is Li Huijun, director of the Deep Blue Nuclear Power Research Institute.

Although Li Huijun was born in the 90s, she is a genius with four degrees and the strongest post-4s in the field of nuclear power.

The reporters immediately quieted down when they saw Li Huijun come on stage.

"I am very glad that you can come to today's press conference. I am Li Huijun from the Deep Blue Nuclear Power Research Institute. The reason why I invited you all here today is because I have a great news to announce. Just three months ago, we achieved controlled nuclear fusion of helium-3.

The reason why we haven't announced this to the public is that we still need to test its stability after three months of long testing.

We have finally confirmed the safety and stability of helium-3 controlled nuclear fusion.

我们所研发单组氦3可控核聚变每秒钟可以发电8万千瓦时，单组氦3可控核聚变每天发电量是69亿千瓦时，根据国家电网最新统计的数据，2027年前5月华夏全国单日用电量是340.7亿千瓦时。

After discussions with the French Commission and the State Grid, we decided to launch the Jiuding Zhenjiangshan Plan, under which China Nuclear Power and the Deep Blue Nuclear Power Research Institute will build nine helium-9 controlled nuclear fusion reactors in the country. At that time, China's electricity consumption will be supplied by these nine helium-3 controlled nuclear fusion reactors.

At that time, China's existing power stations will completely cease operations, and China Nuclear Power will make compensation for the existing power stations.

On the day when the Jiuding Plan is successfully implemented, the price of electricity for civilian use will be uniformly adjusted to 1 cent per kilowatt-hour, and the price of electricity for industrial use will be uniformly adjusted to 5 cents per kilowatt-hour.

The audience was also shocked after hearing Li Huijun's introduction.

No one expected that Deep Blue Group would be able to develop controlled nuclear fusion of helium-4 in just four years.

However, what surprised them most was the Jiuding Town Jiangshan Plan. The civilian electricity price was directly adjusted to 1 cent per kilowatt-hour, and the industrial electricity price was adjusted to 5 cents per kilowatt-hour. This price is dozens or hundreds of times cheaper than the current price.

The reduction in residential electricity prices has significantly reduced people’s living costs, and the reduction in industrial electricity prices has further reduced production costs.

With the double reduction, the cost of living for Chinese people will definitely drop to the lowest in the world.

Cheap industrial electricity makes Chinese products far more competitive than anywhere else in the world.

Just when everyone thought that the global economy would be impacted by the Jiuding Plan, Li Huijun added: "In order to prevent the global industry from being impacted by the Jiuding Plan, we are opening up the construction of controlled nuclear fusion of helium 3 to the outside world. Any country that needs to build controlled nuclear fusion can contact the relevant person in charge of Huaxia Nuclear Power."

The reason for doing this is, firstly, to increase China's voice, and secondly, to allow the earth to quickly enter the era of comprehensive green energy.

Only by entering the green energy era as soon as possible can we better protect the climate environment and strive for a better living environment for future generations. (End of this chapter)