Controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration and direct energy conversion

• US 7,391,160 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida), Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida), Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Rostoker, Norman, Monkhorst, Hendrik J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thuy V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Tung X
• Application Number:
  US10/983,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20080069287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 315/111.21, 315/111.41, 315/111.61, 315500-507, 376107-130, 210/222, 210/695, 210/748, 210/787, 219/121.36, 219/121.52, 219/123, 250/251, 250/292
• US Class Current: 315/111.41
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 1/00 Thermonuclear fusion reactors
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 1/052 reversed field configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 1/11 Details
• 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 1/12 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: Y02E 30/00 Energy generation of nuclear origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/10 Nuclear fusion reactors

Abstract

A system and apparatus for controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic topology and conversion of fusion product energies directly to electric power. Preferably, plasma ions are magnetically confined in the FRC while plasma electrons are electrostatically confined in a deep energy well, created by tuning an externally applied magnetic field. In this configuration, ions and electrons may have adequate density and temperature so that upon collisions they are fused together by the nuclear force, thus forming fusion products that emerge in the form of an annular beam. Energy is removed from the fusion product ions as they spiral past electrodes of an inverse cyclotron converter. Advantageously, the fusion fuel plasmas that can be used with the present confinement and energy conversion system include advanced (aneutronic) fuels.

Claims

1. A plasma-electric power generation system comprising

a chamber,

a means for creating a magnetic field within a central region of the chamber having a field reversed configuration (FRC),

a means for creating an electrostatic well within the chamber,

a means for injecting plasma into the chamber,

a means for forming a multipole electric field having three or more poles disposed within a first end region of the chamber, and

a means for forming a magnetic cusp coupled to the chamber.

2. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the means for forming the multi-pole electric field comprises a plurality of electrodes.

3. The power generation system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of electrodes are symmetrical.

4. The power generation system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of electrodes are semi-cylindrical.

5. The power generation system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of electrodes are in spaced relation with one another forming a gap between adjacent electrodes.

6. The power generation system of claim 2 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes at least 4 electrodes.

7. The power generation system of claim 2 where the means for forming the multi-pole electric field further comprises a resonant circuit coupled to the means for forming a multi-pole electric field.

8. The power generation system of claim 2 further comprising a tank circuit coupled to the means for forming a multi-pole electric field.

9. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the means for forming a magnetic cusp comprises first and second sets of field coils disposed about the chamber.

10. The power generation system of claim 9 wherein the first and second magnetic fields generated by the first and second sets of field coils have oppositely running field lines.

11. The power generation system of claim 10 further comprising an electron collector disposed about the chamber in a magnetic cusp region adjacent a first end of the means for forming the multipole electric field.

12. The power generation system of claim 11 wherein the electron collector is annularly shaped.

13. The power generation system of claim 11 further comprising a ion collector disposed adjacent a second end of the means for forming the multi-pole electric field.

14. The power generation system of claim 13 wherein the ion collector is disposed within the chamber.

15. The power generation system of claim 13 wherein the electron collector and ion collector are electrically coupled.

16. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the means for generating an FRC includes a plurality of field coils coupled to the chamber.

17. The power generation system of claim 16 wherein the means for generating an FRC further comprises a plurality of mirror coils coupled to the chamber.

18. The power generation system of claim 17 wherein the means for generating an FRC further comprises a current coil positioned along a principle axis of the chamber for creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber.

19. The power generation system of claim 18 wherein the current coil is a betatron flux coil.

20. The power generation system of claim 19 wherein the betatron flux coil comprises a plurality of separate coils parallely wound.

21. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the means for creating an electrostatic well 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.

22. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the means for injecting plasma 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.

23. The power generation system of claim 22 further comprising ion beam injectors to inject ion beams into the chamber.

24. The power generation system of claim 23 wherein the ion beam injectors include a neutralizing means to inject electric charge neutralized ion beams into the chamber.

25. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the chamber is generally cylindrical.

26. A plasma-electric power generation system comprising

a chamber,

a field reversed configuration (FRC) magnetic field generator coupled to the chamber,

a plasma injector coupled to the chamber,

a multipole electric field generator adapted to generate an electric field having three or more poles and disposed within a first end region of the chamber, and

a magnetic cusp generator coupled to the chamber.

27. The power generation system of claim 26 wherein the multi-pole electric field generator comprises a plurality of symmetrical, semi-cylindrical electrodes.

28. The power generation system of claim 27 wherein the plurality of electrodes are in spaced relation with one another forming an elongate gap between adjacent electrodes.

29. The power generation system of claim 26 further comprising a resonant circuit coupled to the multi-pole electric field generator.

30. The power generation system of claim 26 wherein the magnetic cusp generator includes first and second sets of field coils disposed about the chamber.

31. The power generation system of claim 30 wherein the first and second magnetic fields generated by the first and second sets of field coils have oppositely running field lines.

32. The power generation system of claim 31 further comprising an annularly shaped electron collector disposed about the chamber in a magnetic cusp region adjacent a first end of the multipole electric field generator and an ion collector disposed adjacent a second end of the multipole electric field generator, the electron and ion collectors being electrically coupled.

33. The power generation system of claim 26 further comprising a tank circuit coupled to the multi-pole electric field generator.

34. The power generation system of claim 26 wherein the FRC magnetic field generator includes a plurality of field 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.

35. The power generation system of claim 34 wherein the current coil is a betatron flux coil having a plurality of separate coils parallely wound.

36. The power generation system of claim 34 further comprising a control system coupled to the plurality of field to manipulate a magnetic field generated by the plurality of field.

37. The power generation system of claim 26 wherein the plasma injector 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.

38. The power generation system of claim 37 further comprising ion beam injectors to inject ion beams into the central region of the chamber.

39. The power generation system of claim 38 wherein the ion beam injectors include a neutralizing means to inject electric charge neutralized ion beams into the chamber.