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 process, comprising the steps of 
 generating a magnetic field having a field reversed configuration (FRC) within a chamber,    confining a plasma having ions and electrons within the chamber,    generating fusion product ions within the FRC, and    converting the kinetic energy of the fusion product ions emerging from the FRC with helical trajectories to electric power.    
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the step of converting the kinetic energy of the fusion product ions includes directing the fusion product ions through a decelerating electric field and decelerating the fusion product ions.  
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 2  further comprising the step of creating a decelerating electric field.  
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 3  wherein the decelerating electric field is a multi-pole elongate electric field comprising three or more poles.  
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 4  further comprising the steps of emerging the fusion product ions from the FRC in the form of an annular beam and directing the ions along a helical path through the decelerating electric field.  
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 5 , wherein the step of creating a decelerating electric field includes applying an oscillating potential to three or more elongate electrodes in spaced relation with elongate gaps located between adjacent electrodes, the three or more elongate electrodes forming a cylindrical cavity within the chamber.  
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 6 , wherein the step of creating a multi-pole elongate electric field includes creating azimuthal electric fields across the elongate gaps located between adjacent electrodes of the three or more electrodes.  
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 5 , further comprising the step of creating first and second applied magnetic fields within the chamber, wherein unidirectional field lines of the first and second applied magnetic fields extend in opposing directions.  
   
   
       9 . The process of  claim 8  further comprising the step of joining the field lines of the first and second applied magnetic fields to form a magnetic cusp.  
   
   
       10 . The process of  claim 9  further comprising the step of directing the annular beam through the magnetic cusp.  
   
   
       11 . The process of  claim 10  further comprising the step of converting substantially all of the fusion product ions' axial energy to rotational energy.  
   
   
       12 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of collecting charge neutralizing electrons from the annular beam as the electrons follow magnetic field lines of the magnetic cusp.  
   
   
       13 . The process of claiml 2  further comprising the step of collecting the ions once a substantial portion of their energy is converted to electric energy.  
   
   
       14 . The process of  claim 13  further comprising the step of conditioning the electric energy converted from the ion energy to match existing power grids.  
   
   
       15 . The process of claims  14  further comprising the step of generating an electrostatic field within the chamber confining to a plurality of plasma electrons.  
   
   
       16 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the electrostatic field has a magnitude corresponding to the magnitude of a first applied magnetic field,  
   
   
       17 . The process of claims  15  wherein the step of generating an electrostatic field includes the steps of 
 applying the first applied magnetic field to chamber at a predetermined magnitude, and    injecting beams comprising ions into the FRC at a predetermined velocity.    
   
   
       18 . The process of  claim 16  further comprising the step of adjusting the magnitude of the electrostatic field by adjusting the magnitude of the first applied magnetic field.  
   
   
       19 . The process of  claim 16  further comprising the step of tuning the first applied magnetic field to control the magnitude of the electrostatic field.  
   
   
       20 . The process of  claim 15  further comprising the step of magnetically confining a plurality of plasma ions within the FRC.  
   
   
       21 . The process of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of electrostatically confining a plurality of plasma electrons within the electrostatic field.  
   
   
       22 . The process of  claim 19 , wherein the step of tuning an applied magnetic field adjusts the magnitude of the electrostatic field.  
   
   
       23 . The process of  claim 15 , wherein the step of generating the electrostatic field includes the steps of rotating the plasma in a diagmagnetic direction within the FRC and creating an excess positive charge due to electrons leaving the plasma.  
   
   
       24 . The process of  claim 23 , wherein the step of creating an excess positive charge includes exerting Lorentz forces on the plasma electrons.  
   
   
       25 . The process of claims  21 , wherein the magnetically confining step includes substantially classically containing the ions.  
   
   
       26 . The process of  claim 25 , wherein the electrostatically confining step includes substantially classically containing the electrons.  
   
   
       27 . The process of  claim 25 , wherein classically containing the ions includes containing the ions within the confinement structure for a period of time greater than a bum time of the plasma.  
   
   
       28 . The process of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of orbiting the ions within the FRC in large radius betatron orbits wherein the orbit radius exceeds the wavelengths of anomalous transport causing fluctuations.  
   
   
       29 . The process of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of rotating the plasma and generating a current to form a magnetic self-field surrounding the plasma.  
   
   
       30 . The process of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of combining the first applied magnetic field and the magnetic self-field to form the FRC magnetic field.  
   
   
       31 . The process of  claim 30 , further comprising the step of creating an azimuthal electric field within the confinement structure.  
   
   
       32 . The process of  claim 31 , further comprising the steps of coupling the azimuthal electric field to the plasma ions and electrons and exerting ponderomotive forces on the plasma ions and electrons.  
   
   
       33 . The process of  claim 32 , wherein the step of creating an azimuthal electric field includes increasing a current running through a flux coil.  
   
   
       34 . The process of claims  21 , further comprising the step of cooling the electrons.  
   
   
       35 . The process of  claim 21 , further comprising the step of transferring energy from the electric potential energy well of the electrostatic field to the fusion product ions.  
   
   
       36 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the plasma comprises at least two different ion species.  
   
   
       37 . The process of  claim 29  further comprising the step of accelerating the rotating beam plasma to a fusion relevant rotational energy.  
   
   
       38 . The process of  claim 37  further comprising the steps of injecting high energy ion beams into the FRC and trapping the beams in betatron orbits within the FRC.  
   
   
       39 . The process of  claim 38  wherein the ion beams are injected substantially transverse to the first applied magnetic field.  
   
   
       40 . The process of  claim 15  wherein the step of generating an electrostatic field includes applying the first applied magnetic field at a magnitude that corresponds to an electrostatic field that is confining to a plurality of beam plasma electrons.