High-yield icf containment chambers and power reactors

Abstract

Cylindrical inertial confinement fusion reaction chambers are disclosed according to some embodiments of the invention. These chambers can include neutron moderating/absorbing material, radiation absorbing material, and debris collection material. These chambers can also include various injection ports, nozzles, beam ports, sacrificial layers, absorbers, coolant systems, etc. These chambers can be used with directional and/or omni-directional targets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An inertial confinement fusion (ICF) chamber comprising:
 a pressure vessel comprising:
 a first dimension; and 
 a second dimension, wherein the first dimension is longer than the second dimension; and 
   a target insertion mechanism for positioning a directional target, wherein the directional target is configured to emit:
 energy in a first direction that is aligned with the first dimension of the pressure vessel; and 
 energy in a second direction that is aligned with the second dimension of the pressure vessel, wherein the energy produced in the first direction is greater than the energy produced in the second direction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ICF chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure vessel further comprises a neutron absorption layer lining at least a portion of an interior of the pressure vessel that is parallel to the first dimension. 
     
     
         3 . The ICF chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure vessel further comprises a radiation absorption layer lining at least a portion of an interior of the pressure vessel that is perpendicular to the first dimension. 
     
     
         4 . The ICF chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure vessel comprises a cylinder with an axial length along the first dimension and a diameter along the second dimension, wherein the axial length of the pressure vessel is at least two times the diameter of the cylindrical pressure vessel. 
     
     
         5 . The ICF chamber of  claim 4 , wherein the pressure vessel further comprises a pair of hemispherical end caps on the cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The ICF chamber of  claim 4 , wherein the axial length of the pressure vessel is at least five times the diameter of the cylindrical pressure vessel. 
     
     
         7 . The ICF chamber of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more beam channels embedded in a wall of the pressure vessel that are disposed around a perimeter of the pressure vessel and angled to intersect at the directional target. 
     
     
         8 . The ICF chamber of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of injection nozzles configured to deposit a sacrificial layer on an inner surface of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         9 . The ICF chamber of  claim 1 , further comprising a tritium breeding mechanism comprising channels in the pressure vessel that are filled at least in part with lithium. 
     
     
         10 . The ICF chamber of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure vessel further comprises:
 a first material positioned within the pressure vessel on at least a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel that is approximately orthogonal to the first dimension of the pressure vessel, wherein the first material is configured to receive a first type of emission produced by the directional target in the first direction and   a second material positioned within the pressure vessel on at least a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel that is approximately orthogonal to the second dimension of the pressure vessel, wherein the first material is configured to receive a second type of emission produced by the directional target in the second direction.   
     
     
         11 . A method of containing products of an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosion, the method comprising:
 providing a pressure vessel comprising:
 a first dimension; and 
 a second dimension, wherein the first dimension is longer than the second dimension; and 
   placing a directional target into a target insertion mechanism; and   positioning the directional target in the pressure vessel using the target insertion mechanism, such that:
 energy emitted by the directional target in a first direction is aligned with the first dimension of the pressure vessel; and 
 energy emitted by the directional target in a second direction is aligned with the second dimension, wherein the energy produced in the first direction is greater than the energy produced in the second direction. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure vessel further comprises a neutron absorption layer lining at least a portion of an interior of the pressure vessel that is parallel to the first dimension. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure vessel further comprises a radiation absorption layer lining at least a portion of an interior of the pressure vessel that is perpendicular to the first dimension. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure vessel comprises a cylinder with an axial length along the first dimension and a diameter along the second dimension, wherein the axial length of the pressure vessel is at least two times the diameter of the cylindrical pressure vessel. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the pressure vessel further comprises a pair of hemispherical end caps on the cylinder. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the axial length of the pressure vessel is at least five times the diameter of the cylindrical pressure vessel. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , providing one or more beam channels embedded in a wall of the pressure vessel that are disposed around a perimeter of the pressure vessel and angled to intersect at the directional target. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , providing a plurality of injection nozzles configured to deposit a sacrificial layer on an inner surface of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , providing a tritium breeding mechanism comprising channels in the pressure vessel that are filled at least in part with lithium. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the pressure vessel further comprises:
 a first material positioned within the pressure vessel on at least a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel that is approximately orthogonal to the first dimension of the pressure vessel, wherein the first material is configured to receive a first type of emission produced by the directional target in the first direction; and   a second material positioned within the pressure vessel on at least a portion of an interior wall of the pressure vessel that is approximately orthogonal to the second dimension of the pressure vessel, wherein the first material is configured to receive a second type of emission produced by the directional target in the second direction.