Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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INVENTION TITLE:
ROTATING HIGH-DENSITY FUSION REACTOR FOR ANEUTRONIC AND
NEUTRONIC FUSION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention describes an energy technology which utilizes neutrals to
undergo fusion.
It relates to the field of energy production from nuclear fusion in which two
atoms fuse
together into a third atom with the resultant release of energy, a consequence
of mass
being converted into energy.
This invention provides a new approach to the production of fusion energy
using neutrals
instead of charged particles. It describes how neutrals can be accelerated in
a compact
rotating configuration, thereby achieving repeated interactions among
themselves.
Date Recue/Date Received 2020-11-04
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2. BACKGROUND
Fusion research has been going on since 1950's and the prospect for a
commercial reactor
is still many years away. The confinement of charged particles, the presence
of
instabilities and the large amount of energy required to sustain the reacting
system at high
temperatures all make this into one of the most challenging world-wide
efforts. Many
configurations have been proposed and tried to confine charged particles which
are
accelerated by electromagnetic means. No simple low-cost reactors have been
realized
today.
The present invention chooses to pursue fusion among neutrals in order to
achieve very
high density of particles for interactions, e.g. four orders of magnitude
higher than is
possible with charged particles. It uses the strong magnetic force (several
thousands of
newtons) on a current element to drive neutrals through the principle of ion-
neutral
coupling. The simple geometry and the compactness of the device makes it a
breakthough in the concept on fusion. Unlike charged particles, neutrals do
not
experience Coulomb repulsion as they approach each other until they reach
subatomic
dimensions. The cross sections of neutral-neutral interactions are therefore
higher.
The high density of neutrals makes it possible to produce energy at a
significant rate for
commercial application. The rate of fusion is proportional to the square of
the density.
This technology is different from the present day usage of charged particles
for fusion,
where it is difficult to achieve high density due to the energy requirement on
ionization
and instabilities of a charged medium.
The high density of interacting particles makes it possible to attempt clean
fusion where
neutrons are not in the products. The advantages of such a fusion reactor are
numerous,
one of which is the siting of reactors in urban areas. Others are
environmental
considerations including low amount of nuclear wastes, low cost of fuels and
the
replacement of hydrocarbons as fuels, thereby eliminating the emission of
greenhouse
gases.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This device operates at high neutral densities in order to increase the rate
of fusion
reactions even for low cross sections of interacting elements. This rate is
proportional to
the square of neutral densities. In one embodiment these neutrals are driven
to high
velocities by a non-mechanical plasma rotor in an annular region bounded by
two
concentric electrodes in an axial magnetic field. A DC voltage is imposed
between these
electrodes to impart a radial DC current I which produces a force F=ILxB in
the
azimuthal direction where L is the radial vector of length L along which the
current
flows.
The repeated interactions between hydrogen and boron atoms in the annular
region
produce sufficient fusion reactions to yield energetic helium nuclei which can
be used in
a direct conversion to electricity or a source of heat for energy production.
The low %
ionization, the high driving force F in thousands of newtons and the repeated
interactions
at high neutral densities combine to make this a system without pollution and
minimal
radioactive wastes. Hydrogen and boron are both plentiful and non-radioactive
stable
elements. The fusion product, energetic doubly-charged helium nuclei, lend
themselves
to direct conversion to electricity with high efficiency.
This device requires only a simple capital outlay consisting of a
superconducting magnet
and a DC power supply. It can operate in various sizes from 50 cm size to 10's
meters,
depending on the application.
Another aneutronic reactor uses the proton lithium ( p- Li 6) reactions with
products of
He3 and He4 . The ease of coating of Li on electrodes inside chamber might be
an
advantage of sources and sinks in certain applications.
The above technology of using a predominant amount of neutrals can also be
applied to
D-T , D-D fusion where the products include neutrons. The capital investment
and
operation cost will be higher because of requirements for shielding and
handling of
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radioactive materials. However the larger cross sections at lower energies of
these fusion
reactions compensate somewhat for this higher capitalization and operational
cost.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows one configuration of a p-B11 fusion device with concentric
electrodes.
Fig. 2 shows a high current multi-triggering discharge circuit to extend pulse
duration
Fig. 3 shows a 6 kilovolt direct current power supply for continuous wave
discharge.
Fig. 4 shows a 6 kilovolt 200 amp direct current power supply circuit.
Fig. 5 shows a pulsed and continuous wave combination discharge circuit.
Fig. 6 shows a typical plasma discharge monitored on the central rod using the
combination supply from fig 5.
Fig. 7 shows an alternate configuration of a fusion reactor in accordance with
the present
invention; and
Fig. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a system for supplying hydrogen to a
fusion device
in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Typical designs of pulse supplies and CW supplies used to produce pre-
ionization and
sustained rotation of the plasma are illustrated in Figs. 2-4.
Fig. 1 shows a configuration of a p-B11 fusion device with concentric
electrodes. A
superconducting magnet 11 is provided capable of generating an axial magnetic
field.
The chamber 5 has a cooling input 1. The chamber 5 also has a gas input 2. An
electrical
power supply 12 is connected to discharge rod 3. An expanded discharge rod 8
is
provided in chamber 5. Element 4 is an insulator. Element 6 is an external
discharge rod.
Element 7 denotes Boron discs. Element 10 illustrates a Boron target. Element
9
illustrates a plasma.
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Multiple pulse supplies are triggered sequentially to produce a sequence of
pulses for
sustaining a high rotation rate. The timing of the pulses is such that before
the
conductivity of the plasma decays to a low value the next pulse is turned on
to impart
another radial current for rotation.
After the initial breakdown to create the plasma current the voltage required
to maintain
the flow is lowered such as shown in figure 6, thereby lowering the power
requirement.
In this scheme only a low % ionization (10-5) is required. The recombination
rate
between ions and electrons is minimum because of ions and electrons are
surrounded by
neutrals. The power to maintain such low % ionization is many times less than
what is
needed to maintain a fully ionized medium.
The rotations of neutrals and ions are diagnosed using a camera with fast
shutter speeds
up to 100,000/s. By following a given inhomogeneity the rotation rate can be
estimated.
Another method is to use "laser tagging". A laser is tuned to a given
wavelength which
matches either an ion line or a neutral line. The resonant scattering at a
different
wavelength is monitored in space and time using the fast camera with a filter.
Alternately
a spectrometer and a fiber tuned to a given wavelength can also be used.
Each element has both rotating and stationary distributions such that the
rotating boron
species collides with the stationary hydrogen species and vice versa. The
stationary
component of B 11 is provided at the inner and outer electrodes, while the
rotating
component B 11 is provided by J x B force. A continuous stream of hydrogen is
fed from
a pressure tank to produce background pressures of 1- 10 Torr.
The repeated interactions between these rotating boron and stationary hydrogen
and
rotating hydrogen and stationary boron give rise to a high rate of fusion as
represented in
the following equation:
dW/dt = np nb a v Y rate of fusion/ cm' sec
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where np , nb are the densities of protons and borons respectively;
a is the fusion cross section at a particular energy E
v is the relative velocity between proton and boron,
Y is the energy yield per fusion reaction = 8.7 MeV
It should be noted that np represents both hydrogen ions and neutrals because
for
fusion reactions either neutrals or ions can participate in fusion.
The fusion break-even condition is given by the fusion output being greater
than the
energy input per unit volume:
dW/dt > V11 Tm / V where
V,õ = Voltage applied between two concentric electrodes
= Radial current due to the applied voltage Vil,
V = Volume of rotating region where neutrals and ions are being driven by J
x B
force; energy input comes from the DC voltage and current applied between the
two
electrodes.
The operating magnetic field is usually between 0.5-3 T. Initial ionization by
electrons along the axial magnetic field might be used to provide electrons
and ions
for pre-ionization. The plasma impedance between the two concentric cylinders
is
lowered such that a radial current flows between the concentric cylinders.
This
radial discharge current across the magnetic field takes place primarily via
ion
transport across the strong magnetic field because ions have much larger orbit
than
electrons. The force J x B causes ions to rotate in the azimuthal direction.
At high
densities frequent collisions between ions and neutrals make them rotate
together.
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In our laboratory plasma a 0.1 ohm resistance and a radial current of 10 KA
were
observed for a voltage of 1 Ky. This current gives rise to a force of 10,000
newtons
in a field of 2T and a radius of 50 cm. Under this strong driving force Boron
ions and
neutrals can attain an energy of 100 KeV in 10 ms. This range of energy allows
fusion to take place.
Boron atoms rotating at 3 x 105 revolutions/s at a radius of 50 cm will reach
the
energy of 100 KeY. Hydrogen-Boron fusion reaction can occur when high-pressure
hydrogen gas is puffed in towards the rotating annular region of Boron. The
high
densities ( 1018 /cm3 ) of neutral boron and hydrogen atoms help sustain a
significant
fusion yield even though the cross section is only 3 x10-28 cm2 .
In the rotating region where all the particles rotate at the same rate,
assuming a solid
body rotation, there will be low relative velocities among elements for fusion
unless
the Coulomb barrier is reduced by electron screening as explained below.
However
without such reduction the relative velocities between rotating Boron and
ambient
hydrogen atoms would be required to be high enough for fusion to take place. A
rate
of reaction depends on the energy of B" and hydrogen. The device can be
operated at
high neutral densities of hydrogen and boron because instabilities due to
space charges
are not present. A high voltage is applied either in pulses or steady state or
a
combination of both pulses and steady voltages, with a resultant radial
current flowing
between the discharge rod 8 and the discharge rod 6, which function as
electrodes.
The radial current produces a strong torque to push ions in the azimuthal
direction,
causing collisions with neutrals and co-rotation of the neutrals with the
ions. The
power supply further produces a continuous chain of pulses, such that the
radial
current is sustained so as to produce a continuous driving force to rotate ion
and
neutrals. A combination of pulses and CW voltages are used to maximize the
efficiency between rotating energy and the input electrical energy; pulses are
used to
sustain the number of ions in the system and CW voltages are used to maintain
the
rotation. The fusion reaction produces energetic alpha particles (He4), which
are used
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for direct conversion to electrical energy; and the slowing down of these
alphas yields
a charging current in a power supply.
If we take np , nb = 1018 /CM3 and a = 3 x 10-28 CM2 ( assumed 100 KeV
of energy for Boron) and relative speed between hydrogen and boron v = 108
cm/s
we have dW/dt = 3 x 1016 /s cm3 x 8.7 MeV = 5 x 103 J/s cm3
Our proof-of-principle experiment lasts for 1 ms in a volume of 3 x 103 cm3
the
power released is estimated to be 15 KJ .
The energy input is 2.5 KV and 4000 A or 10 MW for 0.1 ms which is equal to 1
KJ.
If we can accelerate borons to 200 KeV the cross section is increased to
1.5 x 1026 cm2 or 30 fold increase in cross section. If the energy input is
doubled then the energy multiplication is estimated to be approximately 200.
Number of He nuclei to be detected.
The number of total reactions in 1 ms in a volume of 3 x 103 cm3 is equal to 9
x 1016
. The product of reactions in He nuclei is 2.7 x 1017.
The density of He particles is 0.9 x 1014 /cm3 or 10-3 Torr / ms pulse . This
density of He is detectable by a quadrupole mass spectrometer of RGA (
residual gas
analyzer). The population of He particles is increased with the number of
pulses,
when the volume is not pumped.
A method of estimating the maximum velocity of rotation of neutrals gained
during
the acceleration by J x B force or I L B where I is the radial current, L is
the length
of the current and B is the field perpendicular to I is as follows:
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For our current pulsed experiments where helium is to be observed optically
the
following parameters are used: 1 = 104 A , L= .5 m , B=3T F= 1. 5 x 104 N
Acceleration is F/m = 0.5 x 109 m/s2 , where m is the mass of borons and
hydrogen at
density of 1018 /cm3 and is equal to 3.3 x 10-5 kg.
For 2ms of acceleration v= lAat = 106 m/s . This
justifies the assumption of v =
108 cm/s assumed above in our calculation of fusion events. This velocity
corresponds
to Boron energy of 100 KeV.
For hydrogen-boron fusion the cross sections "sigma" are :
At 200 KeV sigma is 1.6 x 10-2 Barn
At 100 KeV sigma is 3 x 104 Barn
At 50 KeV sigma is 10-6 Barn
1 barn is 10 24 CM2 .
For DD reactions the fusion cross section is:
At 50 KeV sigma is 104 barns
For DT reactions the fusion cross section is
At 10 KeV sigma is 105 barns
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Additional Embodiments
Applicable Fusion Reactions
The embodiments above primarily consider the p-1311 fusion reaction, involving
hydrogen nuclei (protons) and boron nuclei, as described by the equation:
p+B11¨>3 He4+8.68 MeV
The reactants (e.g., hydrogen and boron) may be in solid (powder,
nanoparticles, or
other), liquid, or gaseous state, may be mixed in a solution with water or any
other
solvent, and may be present in elemental form or in any chemical compound. For
example, boron is often found in borate minerals, including borax, kemite,
ulexite,
colemanite, and boracite, any of which could be used to provide boron fuel
into the
fusion reactor described above (hereinafter referred to as the "Alpha Unit").
In
addition, other boron compounds which are not borate minerals, including but
not
limited to elemental boron, lanthanum hexaboride, and boron nitride, could be
used.
Additionally, the Alpha Unit is suitable for use with all other fusion
reactions,
both neutronic and aneutronic, including (but not limited to):
D + T ¨> He4+ n + 17.59 MeV
D+D¨>T+p+ 4.04 MeV
D + D ¨> He3 + n +3.27 MeV
D + D ¨> He4+ y +23.85 MeV
T + T ¨> Hc4+ 2n +11.33 MeV
D + He3¨> He4+ p + 18.35 MeV
p + Li6 ¨> Hc4 + He3 + 4.02 MeV
p + Li7¨> 2He4+ 17.35 MeV
p+p¨>D+e+ +v +1.44 MeV
D + p ¨> He3+ y + 5.49 MeV
He3 + He3 ¨> He4 + 2p + 12.86 MeV
p c12 N13 y+
1.94 MeV
[N13 C13 e+ + v + y + 2.22 MeV]
p + C13 ¨> N14+ y + 7.55 MeV
p + N14 ¨> 015 + y + 7.29 MeV
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[015 ¨> N15 e+ + v + y + 2.76 MeV]
p + N15 ¨> C12 + He4 + 4.97 MeV
C12 + C12 ¨> Na22 + p + 2.24 MeV
C12 c12
Na2 + He4 + 4.62 MeV
c12 c12 mg24 y + 13.93 MeV
Continuous vs. batched operation
Because all fusion reactions involve the consumption of fuel, to continue
operating indefinitely the Alpha Unit must have its fuel supply replenished.
There are
two ways of achieving this:
1) Continuous operation, whereby fuel is added and fusion products are removed
continuously. In this mode of operation, the Alpha Unit would only need to be
shut
down for maintenance, or in cases of operational failure.
2) Batched operation, whereby fuel is added prior to operation, the Alpha Unit
is
run, and operations are ceased when a certain proportion of the fuel (up to
100%) has
been consumed. Once the device has stopped operating, the fusion products
would be
removed, new fuel added, and, as needed, maintenance performed. This mode of
operation would require more operational cessations than the continuous mode
of
operation, but would simplify the fuel loading and fusion product removal
processes.
Pulsed vs. continuous voltage
In past operation, the reactions in the Alpha Unit have been prompted by a
series
of short-duration pulses of voltage on the inner electrode to induce a plasma
current
between the inner and outer electrodes and cause the fluid inside the Alpha
Unit to
rotate. However, as an alternative, the Alpha Unit could be run with a
continuous
supply of voltage to the inner electrode.
Fusion/fission hybrids
Some fission reactions, for example the thorium fission cycle, rely on a large
flow
of high-energy particles (e.g., neutrons, protons, alpha particles) to drive
the reaction.
Such reactions may have advantages over conventional nuclear fission fuel
cycles in
that they involve only trace amounts of radioactive material, which are
insufficient to
drive a nuclear chain reaction
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The Alpha Unit could be used to drive these fission reactions by providing the
supply of high-energy particles. For example, when using the p-B1l reaction, a
mixture of doubly-charged He4 (a particles), and charged and neutral boron and
hydrogen nuclei could be directed out of the Alpha Unit and into a separate
reactor
containing the fission fuel. The energy generated by the fission reaction
could be
used independently from, or in combination with, energy extracted from the
Alpha
Unit (for electricity generation, industrial heat, or other useful purposes).
Materials of construction
A key component of the Alpha Unit is a magnet which could be a
superconducting magnet (including use of same from retrofitted MRI machines),
a
permanent magnet, an electromagnet or other suitable type of magnet. The other
components consist of a chamber wall, and an outer and an inner electrode.
Auxiliary
components such as a power supply, fuel input rod, and cooling systems may
also be
present.
In general, structural integrity and tolerance to high temperatures will be
important criteria in selecting materials of construction. In the case of the
electrodes,
high conductivity will also be a critical factor. As a result, metals are
likely to be
ideal for some or all of the components. However, alternatives such as
composites,
ceramics, or plastics may also be useful in some cases. The design of the
Alpha Unit
is not specific to any one set of materials.
Elimination of components
The design of the Alpha Unit described above includes an inner and outer
electrode to conduct a plasma current, as well as a superconducting magnet to
create
an axial magnetic field. However, it is possible to eliminate one or more of
these
components by using a current drive. For example, rotation could be induced by
creating an AC magnetic field with a rotating current, causing ions to rotate
via
resonant coupling, and eliminating the need for a magnet and inner electrode.
Geometry and scale
The embodiments above envision the Alpha Unit as a cylinder. While this may
well be an optimal design, the Alpha Unit could also be operated with other
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geometries, such as an oval cross-section, or a torus, so long as particles
are able to
rotate around the device.
Since fusion reactions happen on a nuclear level (-10-15 m), there is almost
no
fundamental limit to the scale (large and small) at which an Alpha Unit could
be
implemented. For example, an Alpha Unit might be applied on a nano-level, such
that it could be used to provide power to electronic circuitry, or for other
purposes; or
implemented on a very large scale where it could, for example, satisfy the
electricity
requirements of entire cities, regions or countries using one or more Alpha
Units.
Changes in scale could be achieved by increasing or decreasing the length of
the
Alpha Unit, increasing or decreasing its diameter, doing both, or (in the case
of
scaling up) by using multiple modules. Similar adjustments could be made to
versions of the Alpha Unit with non-cylindrical geometries.
Energy extraction
Direct energy conversion
Many fusion reactions produce high-energy charged particles, which can be
directly converted to usable electricity using electromagnetic means (e.g., by
inducing
an electrical current in a nearby wire). ). Charged particles from fusion have
energy
in the MeV range and have low collision frequencies with background medium and
therefore undergo motion dictated by the background electric and magnetic
fields,
even in a normally collisional environment. One notable concept developed by
researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory involves charged
particles
being selectively removed, guided away from the plasma in which fusion
reactions
are taking place using a magnetic field, and decelerated by retarding electric
fields.
The energy given up by the particles during deceleration is converted to an
electrical
current. Such a concept could be used with the Alpha Unit, either
independently or
in combination with other direct energy conversion techniques and/or thermal
energy
conversion techniques. The direct energy conversion could be significantly
more
efficient at producing electrical energy than the maximum efficiency of a
thermal
energy conversion technique. Several novel adaptations of the Alpha Unit to
create
direct energy conversion are proposed herein, and are listed and described
below.
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Charged particles (for example, doubly-charged He4 (a particles) move axially,
as
a result of their high energy, in addition to high-speed azimuthal rotation
induced by
the magnetic field and plasma current in the Alpha Unit. Charged particles
created as
a product of fusion reactions have much higher energy than other charged
particles or
neutrals which are not produced by fusion reactions. Thus, these high-energy
charged
particles (such as a particles in the case of the p-B11 reaction) move axially
at much
higher average speeds than other particles in the Alpha Unit. This axial
movement of
charged particles may be directly converted to electricity, for example by
creating an
electric field opposing the flow of charges outward from the electrodes.
Additionally, the kinetic energy of charged particles rotating azimuthally can
be
captured by similar means. For example, the batteries or electric fields
referred to
above can be used to create an electric field opposing the rotation of charged
particles. These batteries could be placed about the section of the Alpha Unit
containing the electrodes and/or about the sections without the electrodes.
This could
be done separately from, or in conjunction with, the system described above.
To optimize direct energy conversion, it is desirable to control the path of
the
charged fusion products (e.g., alpha particles). One way to do this is to
overlay the
cyclotron frequency of the alpha particles on top of a DC voltage created on
the inner
electrode, generating an electromagnetic wave at the cyclotron frequency. By
tuning
the phase of this electromagnetic wave at the cyclotron frequency, it is
possible to
adjust the paths of the charged fusion products such that they rotate in a
controlled
fashion, allowing direct energy conversion to be optimized.
Similarly, resonance with the intrinsic nuclear spin of the fuel or product
nuclei
(for example, hydrogen, boron, and helium in the case of the p-B11 reaction)
may be
used to increase or decrease the number of fusion reactions or control the
paths of the
particles in such a way as to increase the efficiency of energy recovery.
The radius of the chamber to either side of the electrodes may be kept the
same as
in the section containing the electrodes, or it may be larger or smaller. For
example,
the radius of the chamber might be increased in the direction axially away
from the
section containing the electrodes, and the resonant frequency of fusion
products (for
example, alpha particles in the case of the p-Bll reaction) could be used to
excite
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them to rotate in increasingly large orbits as they move axially away from the
electrodes. This could result in enhanced efficiency and efficacy of the
direct energy
conversion.
In any direct energy conversion scheme, it is likely to be desirable to
minimize
the density of neutrals near charged fusion products (for example, in the case
of the p-
B11 reaction, minimizing the density of neutrals near the charged alpha
particles) to
reduce the transfer of charged particle energy to neutrals (since the reduced
charged
particle energy will reduce the energy available for recovery at higher
efficiencies by
means of direct energy conversion rather than at lower efficiency with a
thermal
process). However, it is desirable to increase the density of neutrals near
charged fuel
particles (for example, hydrogen/protons in the case of the p-B" reaction) so
as to
induce the reaction in the first place. Several configurations, listed below,
may be
used to optimize this situation, either independently or in combination with
one
another.
Fuel (for example, hydrogen) can be introduced directly into the annular space
between the two electrodes in controlled amounts during operation. Much of
this fuel
will be consumed before it escapes the section of the Alpha Unit containing
the
electrodes, or is able to enter the annular space between the outer electrode
and the
chamber wall. Charged fusion products (e.g., alpha particles) which enter
these
portions of the Alpha Unit will thus encounter few fuel particles (the vast
majority of
which are neutral).
Fuel (for example, hydrogen) can be introduced into the Alpha Unit in a short,
controlled burst, perhaps injected in the radial direction. A vacuum could be
drawn,
perhaps from the annular space between the inner and outer electrodes, to
remove
particles. Because highly charged fusion products (e.g., alpha particles) are
more
likely to exit this annulus than lower-energy fuel particles, the vacuum would
draw
out a disproportionately low fraction of fusion products. As a result, the
fusion
products remaining in the Alpha Unit would encounter few neutrals, allowing
for
greater direct conversion of energy.
A schematic drawing of a potential Alpha Unit configuration, including a
chamber of varying radius as described above, is shown in Figure 7. The
drawing
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assumes the use of a p-B11 reaction, although other reactions could be used.
The
drawing also includes vacuum pumps and safety valves on either side of the
chamber,
which could be used to avoid unsafe pressure buildup within the Alpha Unit.
Since the proportion of charged fusion products relative to neutrals within
the
annular space between the two electrodes is likely to be different from that
proportion
in other spaces within the Alpha Unit, the dimension of the inner electrode,
outer
electrode, and chamber wall may be modified to change the volumes of these
spaces
relative to one another and reduce the incidence of charged fusion products
colliding
with neutrals. Control systems and outer annular space geometry may be
optimized
to facilitate gas evacuation so as to minimize charged particle collisions
with neutral
particles thereby minimize otherwise avoidable energy transfer.
Thermal energy conversion
The energy produced during fusion reactions which is not captured using direct
energy conversion will become thermal energy. Capture of this thermal energy
can
be independent from, or performed in combination with, direct energy
conversion.
Thermal energy capture is a common practice in commercial applications (for
example, fossil fuel-fired power plants), and it could be done on the Alpha
Unit in
much the same way. A working fluid (e.g., water, helium, sodium) could be
passed
through thermal coils, thermal jackets, or other heat transfer devices located
within or
around the Alpha Unit to absorb thermal energy. The hot working fluid passed
out of
the Alpha Unit could then be used with any number of devices to convert its
thermal
energy into mechanical motion directly or by means of a secondary loop. The
mechanical motion of these devices could be used directly (e.g., to turn a
wheel), or
indirectly (e.g., to turn a conventional generator to produce electricity).
These devices
include, but are not limited to, the following:
= Steam turbine
= Stirling engine (either to drive a separate electric generator or to have
the piston in
the Stirling engine fashioned as a magnet so as to create electricity from the
motion of
the magnet)
= Free piston engine
= Thermocouple
17
A single device listed above could be used, or one or more devices could be
used in
combination with each other. One or more devices could also be used for
secondary,
tertiary, etc. thernial energy recovery using waste heat from other devices.
Alternatively,
the thennal energy could be used directly to supply heat for industrial
processes, for
space heating in buildings or for water desalination.
An Alpha Unit could also be used in combination with a separate heat transfer
device
to provide auxiliary heat. For example, thernial energy from the Alpha Unit
could be
added to the combustor or inlet section of a combustion turbine, either by
placing the
Alpha Unit within such section or by transferring the heat using a working
fluid.
Similarly, the Alpha Unit could be used as an auxiliary heat source for a
conventional
thermal power plant, either to pre-heat steam or another working fluid passed
into the
boiler, or by adding the heat directly to the boiler.
Fuel supply
Fusion fuel can be supplied to the Alpha Unit using purchased materials (for
example, in the case of the p-B" reaction, using pressurized hydrogen gas
cylinders and
solid pieces of boron compound, amongst other options). Alternatively, it may
be
possible to integrate one or more devices to provide fuel. For example:
= Hydrogen for the p-B" reaction could be supplied with an electrolysis
system or a
thermal dissociation system integrated with an Alpha Unit and powered by the
Alpha
Unit, or by a smaller, auxiliary Alpha Unit, or by a separate source of
electricity.
= Hydrogen for the p-B" reaction could be supplied using an integrated spin
system
(as described in US Patent No. 8,298,318 and US Patent Publication No.
2013/0047783) whereby water, or another compound containing hydrogen, would be
rotated at a rate sufficient to separate the hydrogen from the other elements
in the
compound. A schematic diagram illustrating this concept is shown in Figure 8.
As
shown, a supply of water is applied to the electromagnetic spin system (EMSS ¨
described in detail in the '318 and '783 documents), which produces a supply
of
hydrogen. The hydrogen is supplied to an Alpha Unit, together with Boron,
which are
used in a fusion reaction to generate electricity. Part of the electricity
produced is used
to operate the EMS S.
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= Hydrogen for the p-B11 reaction could also be supplied by using compounds
such
as sodium borohydride, which produces hydrogen when mixed with water.
= By creating the hydrogen by means of a system ancilliary to the Alpha
Unit, the
fueling of the Alpha Unit will not be dependent upon a hydrogen fuel tank nor
upon
the development of hydrogen fueling infrastructure. Similar techniques could
be used
to integrate production of non-hydrogen fusion fuels with the Alpha Unit,
eliminating
the need to develop specialized fueling infrastructures for those compounds as
well.
Positive feedback mechanisms
Space charge effect
Results of operating the Alpha Unit with the p-B" reaction suggest that
operation
of the device is enhanced by a space charge effect. Many boron compounds (as
well
as materials which do not contain boron) will emit electrons when heated. The
intense centrifugal force present within the device causes these electrons to
form a
"cloud" near the wall of the outer electrode. This electron cloud¨a space
charge¨
attracts ions, which in the operation of the Alpha Units have included both
boron and
hydrogen ions. As a result, the boron and hydrogen ions are drawn into close
contact
in this "negative potential well." The close contact of the nuclei in this
well increases
the probability of quantum tunneling, effectively reducing the Coulomb barrier
and
intensifying the rate of fusion reactions. The thermal energy generated by
these
fusion reactions further heats the boron compound, causing it to emit more
electrons
and further increasing the rate of reactions.
Ionization of fuel particles
In addition to the space charge effect, operation of the Alpha Unit with the p-
B11
reaction has also revealed a phenomenon by which production of fusion products
enhances the operation of the device. For example, when alpha particles are
produced
by p-boron fusion events, they tend to ionize hydrogen atoms. The greater ion
density near the outer wall of the annulus of the Alpha Unit decreases the
resistivity
of the gaseous mixture, increasing the magnitude of the plasma current without
consuming additional energy to increase the voltage of the inner electrode.
The larger
plasma current, in turn, increases the Lorentz force in the device, increasing
rotational
speeds and leading to more fusion events.
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Positive feedback
Together, the space charge effect and ionization of fuel particles create a
positive
feedback to enhance the operation of the Alpha Unit. When, in the case of the
p-B"
reaction, a boron compound is heated, it releases electrons that form a space
charge
near the outer electrode. The negative potential well created by this space
charge
brings boron and hydrogen into close contact, increasing the incidence of
quantum
tunneling, effectively lowering the Coulomb barrier, and increasing the rate
of fusion
reactions. The charged particles created by the reactions (e.g., alpha
particles in the
case of p-B") ionize fuel atoms (e.g., hydrogen in the case of p-B"), reducing
resistivity, increasing the plasma current and Lorentz force, and further
increasing the
rate of fusion reactions without an increase in energy input. The increased
rate of
fusion reactions, in turn, magnifies the space charge effect and fuel particle
ionization, which leads to further fusion.
Enhancements to encourage positive feedback
Since the positive feedback mechanisms help to drive performance of the Alpha
Unit, enhancing the feedback is likely to be desirable. While some of the
boron
compounds we have used (e.g., boron nitride, lanthanum hexaboride) are good
electron emitters, even better electron emitters exist, and these compounds
could be
used to increase the space charge effect. Excellent electron emitters,
including but
not limited to graphene, could be chemically combined with the fuel target
(e.g.,
boron nitride), or could be fabricated as a composite with the fuel target
(i.e., the fuel
and electron emitter are physically but not chemically bonded). Additionally,
this
material (fuel target, with or without addition of electron emitter) could be
adhered to
the wall of the outer electrode (as in our past operation), or the outer
electrode could
itself be fabricated out of the material (such that the electrode would be
gradually
consumed by the fusion reactions). In alternate configurations of the device,
the inner
electrode, chamber wall, or other components of the Alpha Unit could be
composed
of consumable fusion fuel, or a composite or compound containing fusion fuel
and
other materials. Similarly, the design of the Alpha Unit could be optimized
(e.g., by
the choice of fuel compound, placement of the fuel, geometrical design of the
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electrodes and chamber) to enhance fuel particle ionization, further
contributing to
positive feedback.
Reaction product separation/removal
In many cases, the materials created as a result of a fusion reaction will
have no
use once their energy has been removed to the extent desired through direct
and/or
thermal energy conversion, and may, in fact, inhibit the operation of the
device. For
example, in the p-B11 reaction, helium created by the reaction may not be
intended for
any additional reactions, and its presence may reduce the number of p-boron
reactions
taking place. As a result, it may be desirable to selectively remove fusion
products
from the Alpha Unit to maintain high partial pressures of the reactants.
Such removal could take many forms, and could depend upon the particular
reaction being used in the Alpha Unit. For example, commercial hydrogen
filters exist
which are selectively permeable to hydrogen but not larger nuclei. Such a
filter could
be applied within the Alpha Unit to create differing proportions of fusion
products to
non-fusion products on either side of the filter, allowing the fusion product-
rich
stream to be removed from the device. Such a filter might also be useful in
enhancing direct energy conversion (since the presence of neutrals vs. charged
fusion
products degrades conversion efficiency), and/or could be used to recirculate
fuel-rich
mixtures to the electrode section of the Alpha Unit for consumption. Similar
filters
designed to be selectively permeable to different atoms or molecules could be
used
for operation of the Alpha Unit with both the p-Bll reaction and in other
fusion
reactions. Multiple filters designed for one or more atoms/molecules could
also be
used in combination with one another.
Additionally, in many reactions the fusion products (such as helium in the
case of
the p-B11 reaction) will be some of the lightest atoms in the system,
particularly once
many reactions have occurred (e.g., when much of the hydrogen has been
consumed
in the p-B11 reaction). As a result, these fusion products will tend to
concentrate near
the inner electrode, where they can be easily removed. Alternatively, in
reactions
where the fusion products tend to be amongst the heaviest atoms in the system,
they
will tend to concentrate near the outer electrode, and they can be easily
removed from
this site as well. In either case, the separation efficiency of the Alpha Unit
will assist
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in removing a high proportion of the fusion products without removing a high
proportion of the fusion fuel.
Monitoring and control systems
Effective operation of the Alpha Unit will require the ability to monitor and
control the device. Many different techniques may be used, including:
= MRI/NMR. For example, proton NMR could be used to measure the movement
of hydrogen atoms in 3 dimensions, in real-time, within the device. In cases
such as
p-B" which use hydrogen as a fuel, this could be useful to monitor the
disappearance
of the protons (indicating consumption in fusion reactions), as well as for
other
purposes.
= Optical sensors, such as ultra-high speed cameras. For example, during
the
operation of our Alpha Units, we record p-B11 reactions using an ultra-high
speed
camera with one or more helium filters, which selectively pass light at
helium's
spectral frequency. Light intensity in the camera's field of view corresponds
to the
number of helium nuclei present at a particular point (which correlates to the
number
of fusion reactions taking place, energy generated, etc.).
= Heat/temperature sensors, which could be useful for monitoring integrity
of
materials, rate of energy generation, cooling system performance, etc.
= Control systems integrated with MRI/NMR, optical sensors,
heat/temperature
sensors, or other sensors to control operating parameters (e.g., rate of fuel
input, rate
of fusion product removal, flow of working fluid for thermal energy capture,
amplitude and duration of pulses applied to the inner electrode).
Applications
Electricity generation
The most obvious application of the Alpha Unit is in stationary electricity
generation applications, including:
= New build power plants, either central (utility-scale) or distributed
(e.g., building-
scale). These plants may be in rural, suburban, or urban settings on land, or
may be
applied in sub-sea environments. In distributed generation applications, a
building
relying on electricity from one or more Alpha Units might choose to avoid
connecting
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to the power grid, since the Alpha Units would be capable of satisfying 100%
of the
building's electricity need.
= Repowering of existing nuclear, coal-fired, gas-fired, and other
conventional
power plants. In this case, the switchyard, transmission interconnection,
generators,
and other components of the existing power plant might continue to be used,
with
only the boiler being removed and replaced with one or more Alpha Units.
Because of its flexible size and relatively simple construction, the Alpha
Unit
could also be used to generate electricity in non-stationary settings. For
example:
= Mobile electronic devices (e.g., cell phones, laptop computers, tablets)
= Transportation devices/vehicles (cars, buses, trains, planes, lighter-
than-air
aircraft, helicopters, ships, submarines, satellites, spacecraft, space
stations, etc.)
= As a replacement for pumps (e.g., self-propelled pigs for pipelines)
Propelling device
The Alpha Unit is primarily contemplated as a closed device whereby energy
generated by fusion reactions is extracted from the Alpha Unit using either
direct
energy conversion or thermal energy conversion. Alternatively, an Alpha Unit
could
be used as a device to propel an object attached to the Alpha Unit (e.g., a
vehicle,
either on Earth or in space) by directing a flow of particles out of the Alpha
Unit.
The high velocities of particles within the Alpha Unit would result in a large
reactive
force when those particles are directed outward, propelling the Alpha Unit and
the
object to which it is attached at a high rate of speed.
