Apparatus for magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma

• US 20030230241A1
• Filed: 12/23/2002
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Rostoker, Norman, Binderbauer, Michl
• Granted Patent: US 7,026,763 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 118/723.0FI
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 1/05 with magnetic or electric plasma confinement
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 1/052 reversed field configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G21D 7/00 Arrangements for direct production of electric energy from fusion or fission reactions obtaining electric energy from radioactive sources G21H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/03 using electrostatic fields
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/10 using externally-applied magnetic fields only , e.g. Q-machines, Yin-Yang, base-ball
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/12 wherein the containment vessel forms a closed or nearly closed loop G21B1/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/14 wherein the containment vessel is straight and has magnetic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/16 using externally-applied electric and magnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/00 Energy generation of nuclear origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/10 Nuclear fusion reactors

Abstract

An apparatus and method for containing plasma and forming a Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) magnetic topology are described in which plasma ions are contained magnetically in stable, non-adiabatic orbits in the FRC. Further, the electrons are contained electrostatically in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. The simultaneous electrostatic confinement of electrons and magnetic confinement of ions avoids anomalous transport and facilitates classical containment of both electrons and ions. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by nuclear force, thus releasing fusion energy. Moreover, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement system and method are not limited to neutronic fuels only, but also advantageously include advanced fuels.

Claims

1. A plasma containment device comprising

a containment vessel having a vessel wall and a principal axis,

a flux coil located within the vessel concentric with the principle axis, the flux coil comprising a plurality of coils wound in parallel and creating an azimuthal electric field within;

the vessel when current directed through the coil is increased,

a plurality of field coils coupled to the vessel and creating an azimuthally symmetrical magnetic field with a flux substantially parallel with the principle axis when current is directed through the plurality of field coils, wherein the plurality of field coils includes first and second sets of mirror coils increasing the strength of the magnetic field created by the plurality of field coils and defining a containment region within the vessel there between, and

a plasma source coupled to the vessel.

2. The plasma containment device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of coils forming the flux coil comprises at least four separate coils.

3. The containment device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of field coils are positioned about the exterior of the vessel.

4. The containment device of claim 1 wherein the plurality of field coils are positioned about the interior of the vessel.

5. The containment device of claim 1 further comprising a control system coupled to the plurality of field coils.

6. The containment device of claim 5 wherein the control system is adapted to manipulate the strength of the magnetic field to produce and control an electrostatic well within the vessel.

7. The containment device of claim 1 further comprising ion beam injectors coupled to the vessel.

8. The containment device of claim 7 wherein the ion beam injectors include a means for neutralizing the electric charge of the ion beams emitted by the ion beam injectors.

9. The containment device of claim 1 wherein the wall defines a generally cylindrically shaped vessel.

10. The containment device of claim 1 wherein the wall defines a generally elongate annularly shaped vessel.

11. The containment device of claim 10 wherein the flux coil is positioned exterior to the vessel and within a central region of the annular shaped vessel.

12. The containment device of claim 1 wherein the first and second set of mirror coils include a greater number of windings than other of the plurality of field coils.

13. The containment device of claim 1 wherein the wall includes a non-conductive material.

14. The containment device of claim 1 wherein the wall includes a conductive material.

15. The containment device of claim 14 wherein the conductive material comprises a metal.

16. The containment device of claim 1 further comprising flux delimiters coupled to the vessel.

17. The containment device of claim 7 further comprising injector ports formed in the wall of the vessel.

18. A plasma containment device comprising

a chamber,

a magnetic field generator creating an azimuthally symmetric magnetic field within the chamber with a flux substantially parallel to a principle axis of the chamber,

a current coil concentric with the principle axis of the chamber and creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber, and.

a plasma source coupled to the chamber to inject a plasma containing electrons and ions into the chamber.

19. The containment device of claim 18 wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a plurality of field coils extending about the chamber.

20. The containment device of claim 19 wherein the magnetic field generator further comprises a plurality of mirror coils.

21. The containment device of claim 18 wherein the magnetic field generator is positioned external to the chamber.

22. The containment device of claim 18 wherein the magnetic field generator is positioned within the chamber.

23. The containment device of claim 18 wherein the magnetic field generator is tunable to produce and control an electrostatic well within the chamber.

24. The containment device of claim 23 further comprising a control system coupled to the magnetic field generator.

25. The containment device of claim 18 wherein the current coil is a betatron flux coil.

26. The containment device of claim 18 wherein the current coil includes parallel windings of a plurality of separate coils.

27. The containment device of claim 18 further comprising ion beam injectors coupled to the chamber to inject ion beams into the chamber.

28. The containment device of claim 27 wherein the ion beam injectors include a means for neutralizing the electric charge of the ion beams emitted from the injectors.

29. The containment device of claim 18 wherein the chamber is generally cylindrically shaped.

30. The containment device of claim 18 wherein the chamber is generally annularly shaped.

31. An apparatus for containing plasma comprising

a chamber,

a first means for creating a magnetic field within the chamber having a field reversed topology,

a second means for creating an electrostatic well within the chamber, and

a third means for injecting plasma into the chamber.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the first means includes a plurality of field coils coupled to the chamber.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the first means further comprises a plurality of mirror coils coupled to the chamber.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the first means further comprises a current coil positioned along a principle axis of the chamber for creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the current coil is a betatron flux coil.

36. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein the betatron flux coil comprises a plurality of separate coils parallely wound.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the second means includes a control system coupled to the plurality of field and mirror coils to manipulate a magnetic field generated by the plurality of field and mirror coils.

38. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the third means includes a plurality of background plasma guns oriented to inject a background plasma substantially parallel to a principle axis of the chamber toward a mid-plane of the chamber.

39. The apparatus of claim 38 wherein the third means further includes ion beam injectors to inject ion beams into the chamber.

40. The apparatus of claim 39 wherein the ion beam injectors include a neutralizing means to inject electric charge neutralized ion beams into the chamber.

41. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the chamber is generally cylindrical.

42. The apparatus of claim 31 wherein the chamber is generally annular.