this post was submitted on 18 Mar 2024
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No Stupid Questions

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When I say “fake fireplace”, I mean something like those structures fueled by fossil methane that produce flame and heat but obviously don’t burn actual wood

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Plasma is a bit hotter than your gas fireplace flame. Common lighter flame is at about 600 deg C and while it's possible to create plasma which is nearly ambient temperature in controlled environments it's generally tens of thousands of degrees (plasma arc welding for example) up to tens or hunderds of million degrees celsius (inside fusion generator).

That's mostly why fusion energy is so difficult problem to solve in the first place as there's no materials which could withstand the heat. So, no, it wouldn't be useful as a fireplace. It would of course radiate heat, but it would also light your (and your neighbours) house on fire, so not that useful.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not to mention that the plasma arc would be so bright that it would blind you.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Even worse, wavelengths of light change based on temperature so multi million degree plasma will blast you with ultraviolet and X-ray radiation