Formation of a field reversed configuration for magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma
First Claim
1. A method of forming a magnetic field with field reversed configuration (FRC) topology, comprising the steps ofenergizing a plurality of field coils extending about a vessel, forming a magnetic guide field extending axially within the vessel, the guide field including first and second radial magnetic field components in spaced relation to axially confine there between plasma injected into the vessel, axially injecting plasma along the axial guide field and forming an annular plasma layer within the vessel, the plasma comprising charged particles including a plurality of electrons and a plurality of ions, energizing a betatron flux coil concentric with a principle axis of the vessel by running current through the coil, increasing the current running through the coil causing a change in axial flux in the interior of the coil, creating an azimuthal electric field within the vessel due to the change in axial flux, rotating the annular layer of plasma within the vessel, generating a current due to the rotating plasma, creating a magnetic poloidal self-field surrounding the rotating plasma, wherein field lines external to the annular plasma layer extend in the same direction as field lines of the guide field and field lines internal to the annular plasma layer extend in a direction opposite to the field lines of the guide field, and increasing the self field to a magnitude at least comparable to the guide field and sufficient to cause field reversal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
119 Citations
49 Claims
-
1. A method of forming a magnetic field with field reversed configuration (FRC) topology, comprising the steps of
energizing a plurality of field coils extending about a vessel, forming a magnetic guide field extending axially within the vessel, the guide field including first and second radial magnetic field components in spaced relation to axially confine there between plasma injected into the vessel, axially injecting plasma along the axial guide field and forming an annular plasma layer within the vessel, the plasma comprising charged particles including a plurality of electrons and a plurality of ions, energizing a betatron flux coil concentric with a principle axis of the vessel by running current through the coil, increasing the current running through the coil causing a change in axial flux in the interior of the coil, creating an azimuthal electric field within the vessel due to the change in axial flux, rotating the annular layer of plasma within the vessel, generating a current due to the rotating plasma, creating a magnetic poloidal self-field surrounding the rotating plasma, wherein field lines external to the annular plasma layer extend in the same direction as field lines of the guide field and field lines internal to the annular plasma layer extend in a direction opposite to the field lines of the guide field, and increasing the self field to a magnitude at least comparable to the guide field and sufficient to cause field reversal.
-
20. A method of forming a field reversed configuration magnetic field within a chamber comprising the steps of
creating a magnetic guide field in a chamber by energizing a plurality of field coils and mirror coils extending about the chamber, injecting plasma into the chamber along the guide field, creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber causing the plasma to rotate and form a poloidal magnetic self-field surrounding the plasma, increasing the rotational energy of the plasma to increase the magnitude of the self-field to a level that overcomes the magnitude of the guide field, joining field lines of the guide field and the self-field in a magnetic field having a field reverse configuration (FRC) topology, and increasing the magnitude of the guide field to maintain the rotating plasma at a predetermined radial size.
-
32. A method of forming a field reversed configuration magnetic field within a reactor chamber comprising the steps of
energizing field coils positioned about a chamber to create a magnetic guide field with axially extending field lines within the chamber, injecting plasma comprising charged electron and ion particles into the chamber along the field lines of the guide field, rotating the plasma by creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber that applies ponderomotive forces to the charged particles, forming a magnetic poloidal self field surrounding the rotating plasma due to the current carried by the rotating plasma, and increasing the rotational energy of the plasma to increase the magnitude of the self-field to a level that overcomes the magnitude of the guide field causing field reversal.
Specification