Controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration and direct energy conversion

• US 7,719,199 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2008
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• 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): Vu; David Hung
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Tung X
• Application Number:
  US12/077,260
• Publication Number:
  US 20080169764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 315/111.21, 315/111.41, 315/111.61, 315/111.71, 315/111.81, 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: 315/111.21
• 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 having a central region and first and second end regions along a principal axis,

a means for creating a first magnetic field within a central region of the chamber with field lines extending in a first direction along the principal axis,

a means for generating a poloidal field within the central region of the chamber, wherein a combined field of the first and poloidal fields has a reversed field topology,

a means for injecting plasma into the central region of 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 second magnetic field in the first end of the chamber having field lines extending in a second direction along the principal axis opposite to the first magnetic field line direction, wherein the field lines of the first and second magnetic fields join to form a magnetic cusp.

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 4 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 5 wherein the plurality of electrodes includes at least 4 electrodes.

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

8. The power generation system of claim 1 further comprises a resonant 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 the first and second magnetic fields comprise first and second sets of field coils disposed about the chamber.

10. The power generation system of claim 9 wherein the means for generating the first magnetic field further comprises a plurality of mirror coils coupled to the chamber.

11. The power generation system of claim 10 wherein the means for generating a poloidal field includes a current coil positioned along the principle axis of the chamber for creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber.

12. The power generation system of claim 11 wherein the current coil is a betatron flux coil.

13. The power generation system of claim 12 wherein the betatron flux coil comprises a plurality of separate coils parallely wound.

14. The power generation system of claim 1 further comprising an electron collector disposed about the chamber in the magnetic cusp region adjacent a first end of the means for forming the multipole electric field.

15. The power generation system of claim 14 wherein the electron collector is annularly shaped.

16. The power generation system of claim 14 further comprising a ion collector disposed adjacent a second end of the means for forming the multi-pole electric field.

17. The power generation system of claim 16 wherein the ion collector is disposed within the chamber.

18. The power generation system of claim 14 wherein the electron collector and ion collector are electrically coupled.

19. The power generation system of claim 1 further comprising a control system coupled to the means for generating a first magnetic field to manipulate the magnitude of the first magnetic field.

20. 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.

21. The power generation system of claim 20 further comprising ion beam injectors to inject ion beams into the central region of the chamber.

22. The power generation system of claim 21 wherein the ion beam injectors include a neutralizing means to inject electric charge neutralized ion beams into the chamber.

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