Systems and methods for compressing plasma

• US 9,875,816 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Fusion Inc.
• Original Assignee: General Fusion Inc.
• Inventors: Laberge, Michel Georges, Richardson, Douglas H.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Marshall P
• Application Number:
  US15/200,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20160314855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 376133, 376190, 376199
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 1/057 Tokamaks
• CPC Class Codes: G21B 3/008 Fusion by pressure waves
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/16 using externally-applied electric and magnetic fields
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 1/54 Plasma accelerators
• CPC Class Codes: H05H 3/06 Generating neutron beams targets for producing nuclear reactions H05H6/00; neutron sources G21G4/02
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 30/10 Nuclear fusion reactors

Abstract

Embodiments of systems and methods for compressing plasma are described in which plasma pressures above the breaking point of solid material can be achieved by injecting a plasma into a funnel of liquid metal in which the plasma is compressed and/or heated.

Claims

1. A method of compressing a plasma, the method comprising:

generating a toroidal plasma;

accelerating the toroidal plasma along a longitudinal direction;

introducing the accelerated toroidal plasma into a passage in a liquid funnel, the passage having a first size at a first end of the passage and a second size at a second end of the passage, the second size smaller than the first size;

introducing a liquid guide substantially along an axis of the passage in the liquid funnel; and

compressing the toroidal plasma as the toroidal plasma moves from the first end of the passage toward the second end of the passage,

wherein compressing the toroidal plasma comprises compressing the toroidal plasma between an inner surface of the passage in the liquid funnel and an outer surface of the liquid guide.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the toroidal plasma comprises generating a spheromak.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein accelerating the toroidal plasma comprises accelerating the toroidal plasma with an electromagnetic rail gun.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein accelerating the toroidal plasma with the electromagnetic rail gun comprises compressing the toroidal plasma by the rail gun.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising recirculating liquid to form the liquid funnel.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the liquid funnel comprises a liquid metal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising electrically isolating the liquid guide from the liquid funnel when the toroidal plasma is between the first end and the second end of the passage in the liquid funnel.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising discharging a capacitor bank to provide electrical energy for accelerating the toroidal plasma.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein discharging the capacitor bank comprises using a saturable inductor to delay discharging the capacitor bank.

10. A method of compressing a plasma, the method comprising:

generating a toroidal plasma;

accelerating the toroidal plasma along a longitudinal direction;

introducing the accelerated toroidal plasma into a passage in a liquid funnel, the passage having a first size at a first end of the passage and a second size at a second end of the passage, the second size smaller than the first size;

introducing a liquid guide substantially along an axis of the passage in the liquid funnel;

electrically isolating the liquid guide from the liquid funnel when the toroidal plasma is between the first end and the second end of the passage in the liquid funnel; and

compressing the toroidal plasma as the toroidal plasma moves from the first end of the passage toward the second end of the passage.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein generating the toroidal plasma comprises generating a spheromak.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein accelerating the toroidal plasma comprises accelerating the toroidal plasma with an electromagnetic rail gun.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein accelerating the toroidal plasma with the electromagnetic rail gun comprises compressing the toroidal plasma by the rail gun.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising recirculating liquid to form the liquid funnel.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the liquid funnel comprises a liquid metal.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising discharging a capacitor bank to provide electrical energy for accelerating the toroidal plasma.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein discharging the capacitor bank comprises using a saturable inductor to delay discharging the capacitor bank.