Trochoidal nuclear fusion reactor

• US 4,347,621 A
• Filed: 06/03/1980
• Issued: 08/31/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Environmental Institute of Michigan
• Original Assignee: Environmental Institute of Michigan
• Inventors: Dow, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cangialosi, Sal
• Application Number:
  US06/156,034
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 176/1, 176/3, 176/5, 176/7, 176/9, 376/121, 376/139, 376/127, 376/141, 376/146
• US Class Current: 376/139
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 1/05 with magnetic or electric plasma confinement
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/10 Nuclear fusion reactors

Abstract

The invention pertains to the method and apparatus for the confining of a stream of fusible positive ions at values of density and high average kinetic energy, primarily of tightly looping motions, to produce nuclear fusion at a useful rate; more or less intimately mixed with the fusible ions will be lower-energy electrons at about equal density, introduced solely for the purpose of neutralizing the positive space charge of the ions. Ions under high kinetic energy are introduced into an annular reaction chamber having a primarily axial strong magnetic field and an essentially radial electric field and assume in the chamber a quasi-trochoidal motion in which the kinetic energies in their small diameter looping components of motion are greater by at least an order of magnitude, than the kinetic energies in the relatively slow crossed field advance motions with which the ions circulate circumferentially around the axis of the annular reaction chamber.

Claims

1. A method of producing and confining a stream of fusible ions at values of density and average kinetic energy such that fusion events will release energy, comprising the steps of producing a strong magnetic field in a highly evacuated region having a strong electric field primarily at right angles to the direction of the magnetic field, forming a stream of high kinetic energy fusionable ions and space-charge neutralizing electrons moving in a direcion at right angels to both fields in the region of crossed electric and magnetic fields, introducing said stream at high velocity into said strong magnetic and electric fields transverse to the magnetic field direction between suitably chosen equipotentials within said strong electric field with resulting confinement at right angles thereto whereby said stream assumes a confined looping trochoidal motion wherein the kinetic energy of the small diameter looping of ions is at least 10 times greater than the kinetic energy of the ions due to slow crossed field advance and the stream includes a guiding center following an arcuate path and achieves a high density and energy adequate to produce fusion events with resulting release of high kinetic energy neutrons and positively charged particles, delivering the kinetic energy of the particles to an energy use means, and removing the advancing stream particles after sufficient stream passage.

2. The method of producing and confining a stream of fusionable ions as in claim 1 including the step of forming said stream of high kinetic energy fusionable ions by sequentially forming a high kinetic energy ion stream, passing said ion stream through an electron source to form a mixed stream of ions and electrons, and introducing said mixed stream into a channel having crossed electric and magnetic fields, said channel introducing said stream into said strong magnetic and electric fields.

3. The method of producing and confining a stream of fusionable ions as in claim 1 wherein said electric field has a variable potential thereacross, said stream comprising a plurality of streams of high kinetic energy fusionable ions and space-charge neutralizing electrons, said streams having a different average potentials and introduced into said crossed electric and magnetic fields at distinct equipotential locations.

4. Apparatus for confining a stream of fusionable ions during a fusion reaction within an evacuated chamber comprising in combination, an inner elongated annular electrode, an annular elongated outer electrode encompassing said inner electrode and radially spaced therefrom, an annular elongated chamber defined intermediate said electrodes, means imposing electric potentials of opposite polarity on said electrodes producing a strong electric field within said chamber, an electric coil encompassing said outer electrode producing a strong magnetic field within said chamber in the elongated direction of said chamber, a stream entrance region and a stream exit region defined in said chamber, said regions being axially spaced relative to one another within said chamber, means for introducing a moving stream of high kinetic energy fusionable ions and space-charge neutralizing electrons into said chamber at high velocity at right angles to said electric and magnetic fields whereby said stream assumes a confined looping trochoidal motion wherein the kinetic energy of the small diameter looping of ions at least 10 times greater than the kinetic energy of the ions due to slow crossed field advance, the stream moving in a helical movement toward said exit region, stream removal means defined at said exit region for removing said stream from said chamber, and high kinetic energy neutron and charged particle absorbing means encompassing said chamber absorbing the energy of neutrons and charged particles released from said stream wherein the kinetic energy of said particles may be utilized in energy use means.

5. Apparatus for confining a stream of fusionable ions as in claim 4 wherein said neutron and charged particle-absorbing means comprises an annular jacket encompassing said outer electrode.

6. Apparatus for confining a stream of fusionble ions as in claim 4 wherein said means for introducing said stream of ions and electrons into said chamber entrance region includes a plurality of channels, each of said channels having an outlet, electric field producing means associated with each channel imparting an electric potential to the stream of ions and electrons passing therethrough, said channel outlets being located within said chamber at a location of electric field potentials substantially equal to the potential of the stream ejected from the associated channel outlet.

7. Apparatus for confining a stream of fusionable ions as in claim 4 wherein said electrodes and chamber are of a linear configuration.

8. Apparatus for confining a stream of fusionable ions as in claim 4 wherein said electrodes and chamber are of an arcuate configuration defining approximately 180 degrees of a cirlce and having first and second ends, said stream entrance region being at said chamber second end.