Controlled fusion in a field reversed configuration and direct energy conversion

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.

1 . A plasma-electric power generation system comprising 
 a fusion reactor having a first magnetic field generator, and    an inverse cyclotron energy converter coupled to a first end of the fusion reactor, the converter comprising    four or more semi-cylindrical electrodes forming a cylindrical surface and in spaced relation to form a gap between adjacent electrodes,    a second magnetic field generator,    an electron collector interposing the first and second magnetic field generators and adjacent a first end of the four or more electrodes, and    an ion collector positioned adjacent a second end of the four or more electrodes.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a second inverse cyclotron energy converter coupled to a second end of the fusion reactor.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the reactor and converter form a cylindrical vessel.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a resonant circuit coupled to the four or more electrodes.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a tank circuit coupled to the four or more electrodes.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electron collector is annularly shaped.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the first and second magnetic field generators comprise annular field coils disposed about the vessel, wherein the field lines of the magnetic field generated by the field coils of the first magnetic field generator run in a direction opposite to the field lines of the magnetic field generated by the field coils of the second magnetic field generator.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the electron collector and ion collector are electrically coupled.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the four or more electrodes are symmetrical.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 7  wherein the first magnetic field generator further comprises first and second sets of mirror coils disposed in spaced relation about the vessel and defining a power core region therebetween.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 10  wherein the fusion reactor further comprises a current coil concentric with a principle axis of the vessel and positioned within the power core region.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the fusion reactor further comprises plasma injectors coupled to the vessel.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein the plasma injectors are axially oriented to inject plasma toward a mid-plane of the power core region.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first magnetic field generator is tunable.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14  further comprising a control system coupled to the first magnetic field generator.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the current coil is a betatron flux coil.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the current coil includes parallel windings of a plurality of separate coils.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the fusion reactor further comprises ion beam injectors coupled to the vessel.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein the ion beam injectors include a means for neutralizing the electric charge of the ion beams emitted from the injectors.  
   
   
       20 . A plasma-electric power generation system comprising 
 a fusion reactor,    an inverse cyclotron energy converter coupled to a first end of the fusion reactor, the converter including a plurality of electrodes to form a multi-pole electric field having three or more poles, and    a magnetic cusp generator coupled to the reactor and converter.    
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the plurality of electrodes are semi-cylindrically shaped electrodes forming a cylindrical surface and in spaced relation with elongate gaps formed between adjacent electrodes.  
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the magnetic cusp generator comprises first and second sets of magnetic field coils disposed about the reactor and converter, respectively, wherein the field lines of the first set of field coils run in a direction opposite to the field lines of the second set of field coils.  
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22  further comprising an electron collector interposing the first and second set of field coils and adjacent a first end of the plurality of electrodes, and an ion collector positioned adjacent a second end of the plurality of electrodes and electrically coupled to the electron collector.  
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20  further comprising a second inverse cyclotron energy converter coupled to a second end of the fusion reactor.  
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the reactor and converter form a cylindrical vessel.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 20  further comprising a resonant circuit coupled to the plurality of electrodes.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 20  further comprising a tank circuit coupled to the plurality of electrodes.  
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the electron collector is annularly shaped.  
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 21  wherein the plurality of electrodes are symmetrical.  
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 22  wherein the first set of field coils include first and second sets of mirror coils disposed in spaced relation about the reactor and defining a power core region therebetween.  
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 30  wherein the fusion reactor further comprises a current coil concentric with a principle axis of the reactor and positioned within the power core region.  
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the reactor further comprises plasma injectors coupled to the vessel.  
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32  wherein the plasma injectors are axially oriented to inject plasma toward a mid-plane of the power core region.  
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 22  where in the first set of field coils is tunable.  
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 34  further comprising a control system coupled to the first set of field coils.  
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 31  wherein the current coil is a betatron flux coil with parallel windings of a plurality of separate coils.  
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the fusion reactor further comprises ion beam injectors coupled to the vessel.  
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 37  wherein the ion beam injectors include a means for neutralizing the electric charge of the ion beams emitted from the injectors.  
   
   
       39 . A plasma-electric power generation system comprising 
 a fusion reactor having a magnetic field generator including a first set of field coils disposed about the reactor, first and second sets of mirror coils disposed in spaced relation about the reactor and defining a power core region therebetween, and a current coil located within the power core region of the reactor extending along a principal axis of the reactor, and    an inverse cyclotron energy converter coupled to a first end of the fusion reactor, the converter including a plurality of electrodes to form a multi-pole electric field having three or more poles.    
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the plurality of electrodes are semi-cylindrically shaped electrodes forming a cylindrical surface and in spaced relation with elongate gaps formed between adjacent electrodes.  
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 39  further comprising a second set of field coils disposed about the converter wherein the field lines of the first set of field coils and first and second set of mirror coils run in a direction opposite to the field lines of the second set of field coils and join to form a magnetic cusp.  
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 41  further comprising an electron collector adjacent a first end of the plurality of electrodes and an ion collector positioned adjacent a second end of the plurality of electrodes and electrically coupled to the electron collector.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 39  further comprising a second inverse cyclotron energy converter coupled to a second end of the fusion reactor.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the reactor and converter form a cylindrical vessel.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 39  further comprising a resonant circuit coupled to the plurality of electrodes.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 38  further comprising a tank circuit coupled to the plurality of electrodes.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 42  wherein the electron collector is annularly shaped.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 44  wherein the reactor further comprises plasma injectors coupled to the vessel and axially oriented to inject plasma toward a mid-plane of the reactor.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 39  further comprising a control system coupled to the first set of field coils and first and second sets of mirror coils.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the current coil is a betatron flux coil with parallel windings of a plurality of separate coils.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 39  wherein the fusion reactor further comprises electric charge neutralized ion beam injectors coupled to the vessel.