re: helion energy fusion reactor, can make an analogy to pistons
one of the fascinating characteristics of the helion design is that it creates electricity "directly,"" rather than through creating-heat-then-creating-steam-then-rotating-a-turbine-which-generates-electricity (as most nuclear and other fusion designs do)
on a very high-level, how does it work?
a piston
energy used for downstroke to compress air
gasoline is injected into compressed air and ignited, resulting in combustion
expansion of combustion forces piston upward (the energy of this motion can be used)
downstroke input energy is less than upstroke captured energy
but we have consumed fuel (gasoline)
helion reactor
electricity is used to create a magnetic field to create and accelerate two FRC plasmoids (made of deuterium and helium-3)
plasmoids collide, resulting in fusion
magnetic field of fusion interacts with containment magnetic field (changing magnetic field creates an electric field which induces current)
input electrical energy is less than output electrical energy
but we have consumed fuel (deuterium and helium-3)