Vacuum chamber for plasma electric generation system

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 ions 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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vacuum chamber for containing plasma comprising
 a chamber wall having first and second ends, and   a plurality of insulating breaks extending axially along the chamber wall between and in spaced relation with the first and second ends of the chamber wall.   
     
     
         2 . The chamber of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of insulating breaks includes a slot extending through the chamber wall to an interior volume defined by the chamber wall. 
     
     
         3 . The chamber of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of insulating breaks includes an insulating material. 
     
     
         4 . The chamber of  claim 3 , wherein the chamber wall is formed of a metal, wherein the chamber further comprising a plurality of metal shrouds positioned within an interior volume defined by the chamber wall and over the insulating material of each of the plurality of insulating breaks. 
     
     
         5 . The chamber of  claim 3 , wherein the insulating material is a ceramic material. 
     
     
         6 . The chamber of  claim 2 , further comprising a sealing plate extending over the slot. 
     
     
         7 . The chamber of  claim 6 , wherein the sealing plate being formed of a substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The chamber of  claim 7 , further comprising an insulating material inserted in the slot and coupled to the sealing plate. 
     
     
         9 . The chamber of  claim 7  further comprising a means for forming a seal between the sealing plate and the chamber wall. 
     
     
         10 . The chamber of  claim 9  wherein the sealing plate is formed from fiberglass material. 
     
     
         11 . The chamber of  claim 1  further comprising a magnetic field generator coupled to the chamber for generating a unidirectional magnetic field within the chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The chamber of  claim 11  wherein the magnetic field generator includes a plurality of field coils extending azimuthally about the perimeter of the chamber wall. 
     
     
         13 . The chamber of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of field coils are parallel oriented to one another. 
     
     
         14 . The chamber of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of field coils includes first and second sets of mirror coils. 
     
     
         15 . The chamber of  claim 11  further comprising a betatron flux coil extending concentrically with the chamber wall within the interior volume. 
     
     
         16 . The chamber of  claim 15  wherein the betatron flux coil is positioned outside of the chamber wall. 
     
     
         17 . The chamber of  claim 15  wherein the betatron flux coil includes a plurality of parallel wound coils. 
     
     
         18 . The chamber of  claim 1  further comprising one or more ion beam injectors orthogonal to and radially spaced from a longitudinal axis of the chamber wall. 
     
     
         19 . The chamber  claim 18  wherein the ion beam injectors include a means for neutralizing the electric charge of the ion beams emitted by the ion beam injectors. 
     
     
         20 . The chamber of  claim 1  further comprising a plasma source for forming an annular cloud of background plasma toward a chamber mid-plane.