Building a Sci-Fi Empire: Starting with Cold Nuclear Fusion

In the living room.

Xin Long casually sized up the young man in front of him.

His purpose in coming here was not only to help Liu Wei secure a cooperation agreement on carbon-14 nuclear batteries, but also to conduct an inspection.

Xin Long's assessment was simple: how much did Chen Yuan actually know about nuclear technology?

If the other party is not only proficient in nuclear decay, but also has sufficient knowledge of advanced technologies such as nuclear fission and nuclear fusion, then he will make a decision today to bring the other party into the Huahe Group. But if the level is very average, he may have to consider it.

At this moment, Liu Wei and Chen Yuan began their discussion. "Chen, Professor Zhang has transferred the relevant technology of your carbon-14 nuclear battery to the company. After reviewing it, we held internal discussions and believe that it not only far surpasses all nuclear batteries on the market, but also shows great promise for future success. Therefore, we would like to establish close cooperation with you. What are your thoughts on this?"

Chen Yuan shook his head and said, "I don't know much about business and don't have any particular opinions. Just tell me your terms."

"Okay, let's cut to the chase and state our conditions."

Liu Wei reached out to the side, and a young man named Xiao Wu immediately took out a document from his briefcase and handed it to him.

He took the document, glanced at it, and looked up again, saying, "You and Professor Zhang mentioned you preferred a hybrid cooperation model. We respect your idea and have discussed a plan. The initial basic cost is 6.25 million. After the carbon-14 nuclear power battery is launched and sold, we will take a cut of the net selling price, which is the industry standard of 0.5% to 10%. Hmm, we've taken the middle value and will give you 5% of the net selling price. How does that sound?"

The revenue sharing ratios for licensing nuclear battery and cochlear implant technologies differ, mainly involving aspects such as technology and cost.

Huahe Nuclear Power's offer of a 5% share of the net selling price is quite generous.

Chen Yuan didn't haggle and agreed, "Okay."

Ayu was quite surprised to hear this. She had believed Chen Yuan when he mentioned that a small research project was cooperating with Huahe Nuclear Industry.

Unexpectedly, Huahe Group stated that the initial basic fee was 6.25 million yuan, followed by a 5% share of the net selling price.

Most importantly, the carbon-14 nuclear battery that Chen Yuan developed is actually ahead of the market in terms of technology.

Although Ayu didn't know much about nuclear batteries, she knew what it meant to have technology ahead of the market. It represented innovation, and it was an innovation that even a large state-owned enterprise like China Nuclear Power Corporation believed was necessary to cooperate with.

As she understood Chen Yuan less and less, she also became more and more convinced that he was capable.

Xin Long chuckled and said, "Little Chen, how about we try to negotiate a higher price with Director Liu?"

Zhang Shulin blinked and said, "Yes, you don't need to be modest just because we're a state-owned enterprise. If you're not satisfied with these conditions, we can negotiate further."

Chen Yuan casually said, "To be honest, I don't have a high desire for money. The conditions that Director Liu mentioned are already very good for me. There's no need to waste time raising the price even a little bit."

Liu Wei praised, "In this materialistic age, there aren't many people with your mindset anymore."

"That's right," Xin Long chimed in, seemingly casually, "Xiao Chen, you don't seem to have much of a desire for money, so what are you more interested in?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present looked at Chen Yuan's face.

Chen Yuan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said, "Scientific research."

Xin Long pressed further, "In which aspect?"

Chen Yuan put down his teacup, smiled, and said, "I didn't have much of a direction before, but recently I've become very interested in nuclear fusion."

"Oh?" Xin Long's eyes lit up. "May I ask how much you know about nuclear fusion technology?"

Once the question was posed, Liu Wei, Professor Zhang, and several other people from Huazhong Nuclear Power Group all became completely absorbed in it.

Only Ah Yu stared at Chen Yuan's face with a slightly infatuated look.

Upon hearing the question, Chen Yuan knew it was time to demonstrate his abilities.

Whether or not I can get a position at the Southwest Institute of Physics in the nuclear industry to lead the controlled nuclear fusion project depends on this day.

He sat up straight and said confidently, "I dare not speak for other things, but in the field of nuclear fusion, I think my knowledge is not much less than that of Academician Xin."

How arrogant!

Don't you know what Academician Xin's achievements are?

Although Academician Xin's projects all involve nuclear fission technology, this does not mean that he is not proficient in nuclear fusion technology.

On the contrary, he was able to become one of the chief scientists of the China National Nuclear Corporation because he was proficient in various nuclear energy-related technologies, including nuclear fusion.

It's fair to say that there are very few people in China who understand nuclear fusion technology better than Academician Xin; you could count them on one hand.

Xiao Wu and several other technicians understood this, so when they saw Chen Yuan's arrogance, they couldn't help but frown.

Xin Long wasn't angry at all, and still said with great interest, "In that case, I'd like to discuss nuclear fusion-related technologies with you."

Chen Yuan extended his hand and said, "Please speak."

"Let me find a starting point," Xin Long said, resting his chin on his right hand as he thought for a moment. "Currently, the world is mainly developing controlled nuclear fusion along two technological routes: magnetic confinement fusion and inertial confinement fusion. Our country's independently developed 'Huaxia Circulator-3' uses a tokamak device as its core and has made remarkable progress globally. Why don't you share your thoughts on 'Circulator-3'? Do you think we can develop controlled nuclear fusion technology by following this route?"

Chen Yuan said: "Judging from the current nuclear fusion technology of various countries in the world, my country's Circulator 3 is indeed very advanced. Whether it is the operation of the double-hundred-million-degree plasma, the operation of the million-ampere high-confinement mode, the advanced magnetic field structure and dual transport barrier control, or the high-rate heating system, all of these reflect that my country's research and development of controlled nuclear fusion technology is becoming increasingly mature."

Xin Long nodded slightly.

Professor Zhang and Liu Wei listened attentively.

Xiao Wu and the remaining Huahe employees had no expression on their faces.

Only Ah Yu, watching Chen Yuan actually talking to others about nuclear fusion technology, had an increasingly intense look of fascination in her eyes.

In her mind, nuclear fusion was a "divine" technology. Now that Chen Yuan can talk about this technology with others, she naturally admires it instinctively.

After making his statement, Chen Yuan dropped a bombshell, saying, "Even so, I still believe that given the current state of development of Circulation 3, it will be difficult to develop controlled nuclear fusion technology in a short period of time."

Ok?

This is one of the most advanced nuclear fusion technologies available today, and you don't think it's promising?

Xiao Wu and several other Huazhong Nuclear Power employees looked at each other, unsure whether Chen Yuan was just spouting nonsense to attract attention or genuinely had his own views and understanding of the development of controlled nuclear fusion technology.

Xin Long said calmly, "The Circulation 3 has incorporated many advanced technologies. Do you really think its development direction is wrong?"

"It's not that the development direction is wrong," Chen Yuan said slowly. "Due to limitations in technological innovation, the contribution of Circulation 3 to the research and development of controlled nuclear fusion technology can only remain at the experimental stage, and it is impossible to build a controlled nuclear fusion reactor in real life."

Xin Long asked, "Why do you say that?"

Zhang Shulin and Xiao Wu were very interested and listened attentively.

Chen Yuandao said: "As the main research direction of magnetic confinement fusion, tokamak devices have made significant progress in achieving high-temperature plasma confinement, but they still have many shortcomings. First, the energy efficiency has not yet reached net gain, which is a common drawback of all current tokamak devices. Second, the continuity and stability of operation are poor. For example, vertical displacement events can induce huge HALO currents, causing serious electromagnetic shocks and local overheating to the first wall, vacuum chamber and magnet system, threatening the safety of the device. Existing devices are difficult to stabilize high-temperature plasma for a long time. In addition, the complexity and high cost of engineering, insufficient tolerance of materials and components, and the problems of tritium fuel self-sufficiency and breeding make it almost impossible to achieve truly controlled nuclear fusion."

At this point, he countered with a question, "Your current research direction should focus on breakthroughs in plasma stability, materials science, and engineering economics, right?"

He spoke the truth and demonstrated his understanding of the tokamak device.

Xiao Wu, Liu Wei, Zhang Shulin, and others nodded slightly, acknowledging Chen Yuan's grasp and understanding of some information about nuclear fusion.

Xin Long said, "We are researching in the directions you mentioned. As long as we can overcome these challenges, building a controlled nuclear fusion reactor should not be a problem."

"You're wrong! Your research is on the wrong track!" Chen Yuan retorted bluntly. "Even if your materials research is incredibly advanced, can it withstand temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius? Impossible! I can confidently say that if you continue researching in this direction, you won't be able to build a controlled nuclear fusion reactor within the next fifty years!"

What?

You're belittling magnetic confinement fusion technology to nothing.

Xiao Wu and several other people from Huahe felt very uncomfortable after hearing this.

Not to mention them, Zhang Shulin, as Chen Yuan's introducer, also frowned upon hearing this.

If there was anyone present who didn't frown like everyone else, it would probably be Ayu. After all, women in love are often blinded by love.

Although Ayu and Chen Yuan haven't officially started dating, their actions are practically the same as those of a couple.

Xin Long, who had previously remained expressionless, now frowned and asked, "If we don't research in these directions, what should we do?"

"It's very simple."

Chen Yuan uttered a startling statement: "As nuclear technology research experts, you must have heard of the 'Dyson sphere' device, right? My idea is that if you want to achieve semi-controlled nuclear fusion in the short term, then equip the hydrogen bomb with a small Dyson sphere. Perhaps it would be easier to achieve controlled nuclear fusion than a tokamak device!"

Yes, he was referring to semi-controlled nuclear fusion technology, not true controlled nuclear fusion.

Since Chen Yuan has mastered controlled nuclear fusion technology, why did he talk about semi-controlled nuclear fusion technology in front of everyone?

The reason is simple: before the controlled nuclear fusion technology is built, it can only be mastered by him, so many technical details cannot be leaked.

Otherwise, if others hear that this is a viable approach and secretly conduct research and produce results, he won't even be able to cry.

Therefore, Chen Yuan only presented the possibility of semi-controlled nuclear fusion.

Moreover, it is only a possibility, and there is no intention to release all the technology.

Now, he wants to see Xin Long and the others' reactions before deciding how much technology to reveal.

Thinking it over, Chen Yuan looked at Xin Long, Liu Wei, Zhang Shulin and others, wanting to see what their expressions were.