Apparatus for magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma

• US 7,569,995 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2006
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• 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:
  US11/498,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20090168945A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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

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 ions 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 generally cylindrical 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 and having open field lines,

a means for creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber positioned about and extending along the principle axis, and

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

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for generating the magnetic field comprises a plurality of field coils extending about the chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein means for generating the magnetic field further comprises a plurality of mirror coils.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for generating the magnetic field is tunable.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 further comprising a control system coupled to the means for generating the magnetic field.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for creating the azimuthal electric field includes a current coil positioned along the principal axis of the chamber.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the current coil includes parallel windings of a plurality of separate coils.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising ion beam injectors coupled to the chamber to inject ion beams into the chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the chamber has a generally annularly shaped cross-section.