Apparatus for magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma

• US 7,129,656 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2005
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• 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: Rostoker, Norman, Binderbauer, Michl
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Trinh Vo
• Application Number:
  US11/173,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20060186838A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 315/507
• US Class Current: 315/507
• 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. An apparatus for containing plasma comprising

a chamber,

a first means for creating a magnetic field within the chamber having a field reversed topology, wherein the first means comprises a plurality of field coils and a plurality of mirror coils coupled to the chamber and a current coil positioned along a principle axis of the chamber for creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber, wherein the current coil is a betatron flux coil comprising a plurality of separate coils parallely wound,

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

a third means for injecting plasma into the chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 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.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the chamber is generally cylindrical.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the chamber is generally annular.

5. 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, wherein the third means includes a plurality of plasma guns oriented to inject a first plasma substantially parallel to a principle axis of the chamber toward a mid-plane of the chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the third means further includes ion beam injectors to inject ion beams into the chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the ion beam injectors include a neutralizing means to inject electric charge neutralized ion beams into the chamber.

8. An apparatus for containing plasma comprising

a chamber,

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

a means for creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber, wherein the means for creating an azimuthal electric field includes a current coil positioned along the principal axis of the chamber, wherein the current coil includes parallel windings of a plurality of separate coils, and

a means for injecting a plasma containing electrons and ions into the chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for generating a magnetic field comprises a plurality of field coils extending about the chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein means for generating a magnetic field further comprises a plurality of mirror coils.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means for generating a magnetic field is tunable.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a control system coupled to the means for generating a magnetic field.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising ion beam injectors coupled to the chamber to inject ion beams into the chamber.