Apparatus for magnetic and electrostatic confinement of plasma

• US 9,672,943 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• 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: Binderbauer, Michl W., Rostoker, Norman
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US15/172,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20170025189A1
• Time in Patent Office: 369 Days
• Field of Search: 31511121, 31511141, 31511151, 31511161, 31511181, 31511191
• 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

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 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 having a longitudinal axis,

a first means for creating a magnetic field within the chamber having a field lines axially parallel to the longitudinal axis,

a second means for injecting plasma into the chamber,

a third means for creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber that couples to charged particles within the plasma causing the plasma to rotate and accelerating the rotating plasma to form a magnetic field and a corresponding electrostatic field, the magnetic field having a reversed topology and being formed around the rotating plasma, and

a fourth means for tuning the electrostatic field.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first means includes a plurality of field coils coupled to the chamber.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the first means further comprises a plurality of mirror coils coupled to the chamber.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising 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.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first means includes a current coil positioned along a principle axis of the chamber for creating an azimuthal electric field within the chamber.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the current coil is a betatron flux coil.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the betatron flux coil comprises a plurality of separate coils parallel wound.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second means includes a plurality of plasma guns oriented to inject plasma substantially parallel to a principle axis of the chamber toward a mid-plane of the chamber.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the second means further includes ion beam injectors to inject ion beams into the chamber.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the ion beam injectors include a neutralizing means to inject electric charge neutralized ion beams into the chamber.

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