Formation of a field reversed configuration for magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma

• US 6,664,740 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2002
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Binderbauer, Michl, Rostoker, Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, HOANGANH T
• Application Number:
  US10/066,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20030024476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 684 Days
• Field of Search: G21/B.100, 315/111.41, 315/111.71, 315/111.21, 315/111.81, 315/111.91, 118/723.FI, 376/107
• US Class Current: 315/111.41
• 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

A system 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 method of forming a magnetic field of field reverse topology comprising the steps of

injecting a plasma into a chamber,

applying a magnetic field to form a first magnetic field in the chamber having unidirectional field lines,

injecting ion beams into the chamber substantially transverse to the first magnetic field,

trapping the ion beams in betatron orbits within the first magnetic field,

forming a rotating plasma beam within the chamber having a current and an internal magnetic field due to the first magnetic field,

forming a poloidal second magnetic field about the rotating plasma having external field lines outside the rotating plasma extending in a same direction as the field lines of the first magnetic field and internal field lines extending in an opposite direction to the field lines of the first magnetic field,

injecting a current through a betatron flux coil in the chamber,

inducing an azimuthal electric field inside the chamber,

increasing the rotating plasma beam'"'"'s rotational velocity,

increasing the second magnetic field'"'"'s magnitude beyond the magnitude of the first magnetic field, and

reversing the direction of the internal field within the rotating plasma and forming a combined magnetic field of field reverse topology (FRC).

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the ion beams are injected substantially transverse to the first magnetic field.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of neutrilizing the ion beams.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of exerting a Lorentz force due to the first magnetic field on the neutralized ion beams to bend the ion beams into betatron orbits.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of draining the neutralized ion beams'"'"' electric polarization.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of maintaining the rotating beam plasma at a predetermined radial size.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of increasing the first magnetic field'"'"'s magnitude.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of accelerating the rotating plasma beam to a fusion relevant rotational energy.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising the steps of injecting high energy ion beams into the FRC and trapping the beams in betatron orbits within the FRC.

10. A method of forming a field reversed configuration magnetic field within a reactor chamber comprising the steps of

applying a magnetic field to a reactor chamber in which plasma is filled,

injecting ion beams into the applied magnetic field within the reactor chamber,

forming a rotating plasma beam within the chamber having a poloidal magnetic self-field, and

increasing the rotating plasma beam'"'"'s rotational velocity to increase the magnetic self-field'"'"'s magnitude beyond the applied magnetic field'"'"'s magnitude causing field reversal internal to the rotating plasma beam and formation of a combined magnetic field having a field reverse configuration (FRC).

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of applying a magnetic field includes energizing a plurality of field coils extending about the chamber.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the ion beams are injected substantially transverse to the applied magnetic field.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of injecting the ion beams further comprises the steps of

neutrilizing the ion beams,

draining the neutralized ion beams'"'"' electric polarization, and

exerting a Lorentz force due to the first magnetic field on the neutralized ion beams to bend the ion beams into betatron orbits.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of increasing the applied magnetic field'"'"'s magnitude to maintain the rotating beam plasma at a predetermined radial size.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein step of increasing the rotating plasma beam'"'"'s rotational velocity includes the step of energizing a betatron flux coil within the chamber inducing an azimuthal electric field within the chamber.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising the step increasing the current through the flux coil to accelerate the rotating plasma beam to a fusion relevant rotational energy.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of injecting high energy ion beams into the FRC and trapping the beams in betatron orbits within the FRC.