NZ730975B2 - Systems and methods for merging and compressing compact tori - Google Patents
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- NZ730975B2 NZ730975B2 NZ730975A NZ73097515A NZ730975B2 NZ 730975 B2 NZ730975 B2 NZ 730975B2 NZ 730975 A NZ730975 A NZ 730975A NZ 73097515 A NZ73097515 A NZ 73097515A NZ 730975 B2 NZ730975 B2 NZ 730975B2
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- 238000007906 compression Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 217
- 230000001133 acceleration Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 113
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 103
- 238000005755 formation reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 103
- 210000002381 Plasma Anatomy 0.000 claims abstract description 29
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- 239000007858 starting material Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000004927 fusion Effects 0.000 abstract description 13
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21B—FUSION REACTORS
- G21B1/00—Thermonuclear fusion reactors
- G21B1/03—Thermonuclear fusion reactors with inertial plasma confinement
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21B—FUSION REACTORS
- G21B1/00—Thermonuclear fusion reactors
- G21B1/05—Thermonuclear fusion reactors with magnetic or electric plasma confinement
- G21B1/052—Thermonuclear fusion reactors with magnetic or electric plasma confinement reversed field configuration
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
- G21B—FUSION REACTORS
- G21B3/00—Low temperature nuclear fusion reactors, e.g. alleged cold fusion reactors
- G21B3/006—Fusion by impact, e.g. cluster/beam interaction, ion beam collisions, impact on a target
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
- H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
- H05H1/02—Arrangements for confining plasma by electric or magnetic fields; Arrangements for heating plasma
- H05H1/16—Arrangements for confining plasma by electric or magnetic fields; Arrangements for heating plasma using externally-applied electric and magnetic fields
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05H—PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OF NEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMIC BEAMS
- H05H1/00—Generating plasma; Handling plasma
- H05H1/54—Plasma accelerators
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
- Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
- Y02E30/10—Nuclear fusion reactors
Abstract
Some previously proposed systems for pulsed fusion concepts do not facilitate a significant reduction of translation and compression losses nor an increase in driver efficiency. Disclosed herein is, a system for merging and compressing compact tori plasma comprising a compression chamber, a first compact toroid formation section, a first compression section, a first acceleration section and a second compression section. The first compact toroid formation section, the formation section comprising modularized formation and acceleration sections for generating a compact toroid and axially accelerating the compact toroid and translating the compact toroid towards a mid-plane of the compression chamber. The first compression section coupled on a first end to an exit end of the formation section, the first compression section being configured to adiabatically compress the compact toroid as the compact toroid traverses the first compression section towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber. The first acceleration section coupled on a first end to a second end of the first compression section, the acceleration section comprising modularized acceleration systems for axially accelerating the compact toroid and translating the compact toroid towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber. The second compression section coupled on a first end to a second end of the acceleration section and on a second end to a first end of the compression chamber, the second compression section being configured to adiabatically compress the compact toroid as the compact toroid traverses the second compression section towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber. mpact toroid formation section, a first compression section, a first acceleration section and a second compression section. The first compact toroid formation section, the formation section comprising modularized formation and acceleration sections for generating a compact toroid and axially accelerating the compact toroid and translating the compact toroid towards a mid-plane of the compression chamber. The first compression section coupled on a first end to an exit end of the formation section, the first compression section being configured to adiabatically compress the compact toroid as the compact toroid traverses the first compression section towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber. The first acceleration section coupled on a first end to a second end of the first compression section, the acceleration section comprising modularized acceleration systems for axially accelerating the compact toroid and translating the compact toroid towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber. The second compression section coupled on a first end to a second end of the acceleration section and on a second end to a first end of the compression chamber, the second compression section being configured to adiabatically compress the compact toroid as the compact toroid traverses the second compression section towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber.
Description
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MERGING AND COMPRESSING COMPACT TORI
FIELD
The embodiments described herein relate generally to pulsed plasma systems and, more
particularly, to systems and methods that facilitate merging and compressing compact tori with
superior stability as well as significantly reduced losses and increased efficiency.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) belongs to the class of magnetic plasma
confinement topologies known as compact toroids. It exhibits predominantly poloidal magnetic
fields and possesses zero or small self-generated toroidal fields (see M. Tuszewski, Nucl. Fusion 28,
2033 (1988)). The attractions of such a configuration are its simple geometry for ease of
construction and maintenance, a natural unrestricted divertor for facilitating energy extraction and
ash removal, and very high average (or external) β ( β is the ratio of the average plasma pressure to
the average magnetic field pressure inside the FRC), i.e., high power density. The β metric is also a
very good measure of magnetic efficiency. A high average β value, e.g. close to 1, represents
efficient use of the deployed magnetic energy and is henceforth essential for the most economic
operation. High average β is also critically enabling the use of aneutronic fuels such as D-He and p-
The traditional method of forming an FRC uses the field-reversed θ-pinch technology,
producing hot, high-density plasmas (see A. L. Hoffman and J. T. Slough, Nucl. Fusion 33, 27
(1993)). A variation on this is the translation-trapping method in which the plasma created in a
theta-pinch “source” is more-or-less immediately ejected out of the formation region and into a
confinement chamber. The translating plasmoid is then trapped between two strong mirrors at the
ends of the confinement chamber (see, for instance, H. Himura, S. Okada, S. Sugimoto, and S. Goto,
Phys. Plasmas 2, 191 (1995)). Once in the confinement chamber, various heating and current drive
methods may be applied such as beam injection (neutral or neutralized), rotating magnetic fields, RF
or ohmic heating, etc. This separation of source and confinement functions offers key engineering
advantages for potential future fusion reactors. FRCs have proved to be extremely robust, resilient to
dynamic formation, translation, and violent capture events. Moreover, they show a tendency to
assume a preferred plasma state (see e.g. H. Y. Guo, A. L. Hoffman, K. E. Miller, and L. C.
Steinhauer, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 245001 (2004)). Significant progress has been made in the last
decade developing other FRC formation methods: merging spheromaks with oppositely-directed
helicities (see e.g. Y. Ono, M. Inomoto, Y. Ueda, T. Matsuyama, and T. Okazaki, Nucl. Fusion 39,
2001 (1999)) and by driving current with rotating magnetic fields (RMF) (see e.g. I. R. Jones, Phys.
Plasmas 6, 1950 (1999)), which also provides additional stability.
FRCs consist of a torus of closed field lines inside a separatrix, and of an annular edge layer
on the open field lines just outside the separatrix. The edge layer coalesces into jets beyond the FRC
length, providing a natural divertor. The FRC topology coincides with that of a Field-Reversed-
Mirror plasma. However, a significant difference is that the FRC plasma can have an internal β of
about 10. The inherent low internal magnetic field provides for a certain indigenous kinetic particle
population, i.e. particles with large larmor radii, comparable to the FRC minor radius. It is these
strong kinetic effects that appear to at least partially contribute to the gross stability of past and
present FRCs, such as those produced in the recent collision-merging experiments.
The collision-merging technique, proposed long ago (see e.g. D. R. Wells, Phys. Fluids 9,
1010 (1966)) has been significantly developed further: two separate theta-pinches at opposite ends of
a confinement chamber simultaneously generate two plasmoids (e.g., two compact tori) and
accelerate the plasmoids toward each other at high speed; they then collide at the center of the
confinement chamber and merge to form a compound FRC. In the construction and successful
operation of one of the largest FRC experiments to date, the conventional collision-merging method
was shown to produce stable, long-lived, high-flux, high temperature FRCs (see e.g. M. Binderbauer,
H.Y. Guo, M. Tuszewski et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 105, 045003 (2010), which is incorporated herein by
reference). In a related experiment, the same team of researchers combined the collision-merging
technique with simultaneous axial acceleration and radial compression to produce a high density
transient plasma in a central compression chamber (see V. Bystritskii, M. Anderson, M. Binderbauer
et al., Paper P1-1, IEEE PPPS 2013, San Francisco, CA. (hereinafter “Bystritskii”), which is
incorporated herein by reference). This latter experiment reported in Bystritskii utilized a multitude
of acceleration and compression stages before final collisional merging and represents a precursor
concept to the system subject to this patent application.
In contrast to the embodiments described here, the precursor system described in Bystritskii
featured simultaneous compression and acceleration of compact tori within the same stage by using
active fast magnetic coils. Five such stages were deployed on either side of a central compression
chamber before magnetically compressing the merged compact tori. While the precursor experiment
achieved respectable performance, it exhibited the following deficiencies: (1) Simultaneous
compression and acceleration led to inefficient use of driver energy deployed for magnetic
compression due to a timing mismatch; (2) Temperature and density decreased as plasma expanded
during transit between sections; (3) Abrupt transitions between adjacent sections led to large losses
due to plasma-wall contact and generation of shockwaves.
Aside from the fundamental challenge of stability, pulsed fusion concepts in the medium
density regime will have to address adequate transport timescales, efficient drivers, rep-rate
capability and appropriate final target conditions. While the precursor system has successfully
achieved stable single discharges at encouraging target conditions, the collective losses between
formation and final target parameters (presently about 90% of the energy, flux, and particles) as well
as the coupling efficiency between driver and plasma (at present around 10-15%) need to be
substantially improved.
In light of the foregoing, it is, therefore, desirable to provide improved systems and methods
for pulsed fusion concepts that facilitate a significant reduction of translation and compression losses
and an increase in driver efficiency.
SUMMARY
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a system for
merging and compressing compact tori plasma comprising a compression chamber, a first compact
toroid formation section, a first compression section, a first acceleration section and a second
compression section. The first compact toroid formation section, the formation section comprises
modularized formation and acceleration sections for generating a compact toroid and axially
accelerating the compact toroid and translating the compact toroid towards a mid-plane of the
compression chamber. The first compression section is coupled on a first end to an exit end of the
formation section, the first compression section being configured to adiabatically compress the
compact toroid as the compact toroid traverses the first compression section towards the mid-plane
of the compression chamber. The first acceleration section is coupled on a first end to a second end
of the first compression section, the acceleration section comprising modularized acceleration
systems for axially accelerating the compact toroid and translating the compact toroid towards the
mid-plane of the compression chamber. The second compression section is coupled on a first end to
a second end of the acceleration section and on a second end to a first end of the compression
chamber, the second compression section being configured to adiabatically compress the compact
toroid as the compact toroid traverses the second compression section towards the mid-plane of the
compression chamber.
The present embodiments provided herein are directed to systems and methods that facilitate
merging and compressing compact tori with superior stability as well as a significant reduction of
translation and compression losses and an increase in coupling efficiency between drivers and
plasma. Such systems and methods provide a pathway to a whole variety of applications including
compact neutron sources (for medical isotope production, nuclear waste remediation, materials
research, neutron radiography and tomography), compact photon sources (for chemical production
and processing), mass separation and enrichment systems, and reactor cores for fusion for the future
generation of energy and for fusion propulsion systems.
The systems and methods described herein are based on the application of successive, axially
symmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to accelerate and heat two compact tori
towards each other and ultimately collide and fast magnetically compress the compact tori within a
central compression chamber.
In certain embodiments, a system for merging and compressing compact tori comprises a
staged symmetric sequence of compact tori formation, axial acceleration by fast active magnetic
coils, passive adiabatic compression by way of a conically constricting flux conserver, and ultimately
merging of the compact tori and final fast magnetic compression in a central compression chamber.
The intermediate steps of sufficient axial acceleration followed by adiabatic compression can be
repeated multiple times to achieve adequate target conditions before merging and final compression.
In this way a reactor can be realized by adding further sections to the system.
The formation and accelerations stages or sections and the central compression chamber are
preferably cylindrically shaped with walls formed of non-conducting or insulating material such as,
e.g., a ceramic. The compressions stages or sections are preferably trunco-conically shaped with
walls formed from conducting material such as, e.g., a metal.
Aside from a magnetic bias field (DC guide field) supplied by slow coils, the formation
sections, the acceleration sections, and the compression chamber include modular pulsed power
systems that drive fast active magnetic coils. The pulsed power systems enable compact tori to be
formed in-situ within the formation sections and accelerated and injected (=static formation) into the
first compression sections, accelerated in the acceleration sections and injected into the next
compression sections, and so on, and then be magnetically compressed in the compression chamber.
The slow or DC magnetic coil systems located throughout and along the axis of the system provide
an axial magnetic guide field to center the compact tori appropriately as it translates through the
section toward the mid-plane of the central compression chamber.
Alternatively, the modular pulsed power systems of the formation sections can also drive the
fast active magnetic coils in a way such that compact tori are formed and accelerated simultaneously
(=dynamic formation).
The systems and methods described herein deploy FRCs, amongst the highest beta plasmas
known in magnetic confinement, to provide the starting configuration. Further passive and active
compression builds on this highly efficient magnetic topology. The process of using axial
acceleration via active fast magnet sections followed by adiabatic compression in simple flux
conserving conic sections provides for the most efficient transfer of energy with the least complex
pulsed power circuitry. Furthermore, these basic building blocks can be sequenced to take additional
advantage of the inherently favorable compressional scaling, i.e. Δp ∝R .
In another embodiment, the system is configured to deploy spheromaks instead of FRC
starter plasmas.
In another embodiment, the system comprises a staged asymmetric sequence from a single
side of the central compression chamber comprising compact tori formation, axial acceleration by
fast active magnetic coils, passive adiabatic compression by way of a conically constricting flux
conserver, and ultimately merging of the compact tori and final fast magnetic compression in the
central compression chamber. Such an asymmetric system would include a mirror or bounce cone
positioned adjacent the other side of the central compression.
In yet another embodiment, the system comprises a thin cylindrical shell or liner comprised
of conductive material such as, e.g., a metal, for fast liner compression within the central
compression chamber.
Other systems, methods, features and advantages of the example embodiments will be or will
become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed
description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
The accompanying drawings, which are included as part of the present specification, illustrate
the presently preferred embodiment and, together with the general description given above and the
detailed description of the preferred embodiment given below, serve to explain and teach the
principles of the present invention.
Figure 1 illustrates a basic layout of a system for forming, accelerating, adiabatically
compressing, merging and finally magnetically compressing compact tori.
Figure 2 illustrates a schematic of the components of a pulsed power system for the
formation and acceleration sections.
Figure 3 illustrates an isometric view of an individual pulsed power formation and
acceleration skid.
Figure 4 illustrates an isometric view of a formation and acceleration tube assembly.
Figure 5 illustrates a basic layout of an alternate embodiment of an asymmetric system for
forming, accelerating, adiabatically compressing, merging and finally magnetically compressing
compact tori.
Figure 6 illustrates a detailed view of the system shown in Figure 1 modified to include a
shell or liner positioned within the central compression chamber for fast liner compression within the
central compression chamber.
It should be noted that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and that elements of
similar structures or functions are generally represented by like reference numerals for illustrative
purposes throughout the figures. It also should be noted that the figures are only intended to
facilitate the description of the various embodiments described herein. The figures do not
necessarily describe every aspect of the teachings disclosed herein and do not limit the scope of the
claims.
DESCRIPTION
The present embodiments provided herein are directed to systems and methods that facilitate
merging and compressing compact tori with superior stability as well as a significant reduction of
translation and compression losses and an increase in coupling efficiency between drivers and
plasma. Such systems and methods provide a pathway to a whole variety of applications including
compact neutron sources (for medical isotope production, nuclear waste remediation, materials
research, neutron radiography and tomography), compact photon sources (for chemical production
and processing), mass separation and enrichment systems, and reactor cores for fusion for the future
generation of energy and for fusion propulsion systems.
The systems and methods described herein are based on the application of successive, axially
symmetric acceleration and adiabatic compression stages to accelerate and heat two compact tori
towards each other and ultimately collide and fast magnetically compress the compact tori within a
central compression chamber. Figure 1 illustrates the basic layout of a system 10 for forming,
accelerating, adiabatically compressing, merging and finally magnetically compressing the compact
tori.
As depicted, the system comprises a staged symmetric sequence of compact tori formation in
formation sections 12N and 12S, axial acceleration through sections 12N, 12S, 16N and 16S by fast
active magnetic coils 32N, 32S, 36N and 36S, passive adiabatic compression by way of a conically
constricting flux conserver in sections 14N, 14S, 18N and 18S, and ultimately merging of the
compact tori and final fast magnetic compression in a central compression chamber 20 by fast active
magnetic coils 40. As illustrated, the intermediate steps of sufficient axial acceleration followed by
adiabatic compression can be repeated multiple times to achieve adequate target conditions before
merging and final compression. In this way a reactor can be realized by adding further sections to
the depicted system.
As depicted the formation and accelerations stages or sections 12N, 12S, 16N and 16S and
the central compression chamber 20 are preferably cylindrically shaped with walls formed of non-
conducting or insulating material such as, e.g., a ceramic. The compressions stages or sections 14N,
14S, 18N and 18S are preferably trunco-conically shaped with walls formed from conducting
material such as, e.g., a metal.
Aside from a magnetic bias field (DC guide field) supplied by slow passive coils 30, the
formation sections 12N and 12S, the acceleration sections 16N and 16S, and the compression
chamber 20 include modular pulsed power systems that drive fast active magnetic coils 32N, 32S,
36N, 36S and 40. The pulsed power systems enable compact tori to be formed in-situ within the
formation sections 12N and 12S and accelerated and injected (=static formation) into the first
compression sections 14N and 14S, accelerated in the acceleration sections 16N and 16S and
injected into the next compression sections 18N and 18S, and so on, and then be magnetically
compressed in the compression chamber 20. The slow passive magnetic coil systems 30 located
throughout and along the axis of the system provide an axial magnetic guide field to center the
compact tori appropriately.
Alternatively, the modular pulsed power systems of the formation sections can also drive the
fast magnetic coils in a way such that compact tori are formed and accelerated simultaneously
(=dynamic formation).
The systems and methods described herein deploy FRCs, amongst the highest beta plasmas
known in magnetic confinement, to provide the starting configuration. Further passive and active
compression builds on this highly efficient magnetic topology. The process of using axial
acceleration via active fast magnet sections followed by adiabatic compression in simple flux
conserving conic sections provides for the most efficient transfer of energy with the least complex
pulsed power circuitry. Furthermore, these basic building blocks can be sequenced to take additional
advantage of the inherently favorable compressional scaling, i.e. Δp ∝R .
Based on experimental and theoretical research to date, a precursor experiment as describe by
17 -3
Bystritskii, using FRC starter plasmas has achieved densities of about 10 cm at 1 keV. The
18 -3
embodiments proposed herein are estimated to reach densities of about 10 cm at 1 keV, while
adding further stages and appropriate upgrades to the central chamber and fast magnetic coils can
18 -3
yield ultimate densities of about 10 cm at full Lawson conditions.
In another embodiment, the system is configured to deploy spheromaks instead of FRC
starter plasmas.
In another embodiment, the system comprises a staged asymmetric sequence from a single
side of the central compression chamber comprising compact tori formation, axial acceleration by
fast active magnetic coils, passive adiabatic compression by way of a conically constricting flux
conserver, and ultimately merging of the compact tori and final fast magnetic compression in the
central compression chamber. Such an asymmetric system would include a mirror or bounce cone.
In yet another embodiment, the system comprising a thin cylindrical shell or liner comprised
of conductive material such as, e.g., a metal, for fast liner compression within the central
compression chamber.
Fusion concepts today are focused on either steady state or ultra-short pulsed regimes. Both
approaches require large capital investment: in steady state magnetic fusion, high expense arises
from large superconducting magnets and auxiliary heating/current drive technologies; inertial
regimes are dominated by high driver cost due to large energy delivery over nanosecond timescales.
The embodiments advanced herein are characterized by compact size and sub-millisecond time
scales. This leads to a regime that has relaxed peak power requirements and attractive intermediate
time scales.
Turning in detail to the drawings, as depicted in Figure 1, a system 10 for merging and
compressing compact tori plasma includes a central compression chamber 20 and a pair of north and
south diametrically opposed compact tori formation sections 12N and 12S. The first and second
formation sections 12N and 12S include a modularized formation and acceleration systems 120
(discuss below in detail with regard to see Figures 2-4) for generating first and second compact
plasma tori and axially accelerating and translating the compact tori towards a mid-plane of the
compression chamber 20.
As depicted, the system 10 further includes a first pair of north and south diametrically
opposed compression sections 14N and 14S coupled on a first end to an exit end of the north and
south formation sections 12N and 12S. The north and south compression sections 14N and 14S
being configured to adiabatically compress the compact tori as the compact tori traverse the north
and south compression sections 14N and 14S towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber 20.
As depicted, the system 10 further includes a pair of north and south diametrically opposed
acceleration sections 16N and 16S coupled on a first end to a second end of the first pair of north and
south compression sections 14N and 14S. The north and south acceleration section 16N and 16S
include modularized acceleration systems (discussed below with regard to Figures 2-4) for axially
accelerating and translating the compact tori towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber 20.
As further depicted, the system 10 further includes a second pair of north and south
diametrically opposed compression sections 18N and 18S coupled on a first end to a second end of
the north and south acceleration sections 16N and 16S and on a second end to first and second
diametrically opposed ends of the compression chamber, the second pair of north and south
compression sections 18N and 18S being configured to adiabatically compress the compact tori as
the compact tori traverse the second pair of north and south compression sections 18N and 18S
towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber 20.
The compression chamber includes a modularized compression systems configured to
magnetically compress the compact tori upon collision and merger thereof.
As depicted the north and south formation sections 12N and 12S, the north and south
acceleration sections 16N and 16S and the compression chamber 20 are cylindrically shaped. The
diameter of the north and south acceleration sections 16N and 16S is smaller than the diameter of the
north and south formation sections 12N and 12S, while the diameter of the compression chamber 20
is than the diameter of the north and south acceleration sections 16N and 16S.
The first and second pairs of north and south compression sections 14N, 14S, 18N and 18S
are truncated conically shaped with their diameter being larger on a first end than on a second end
enabling a transition in the overall diameter of the system 10 from the formation sections 12N and
12S to the acceleration sections 16N and 16S to the compression chamber 20. As depicted, the north
and south formation sections 12N and 12S, the first pair of north and south compression sections
14N and 14S, the north and south acceleration sections 16N and 16S, and the second pair of north
and south compression sections 18N and 18S are axially symmetric.
As depicted, first and second sets of a plurality of active magnetic coils 32N and 32 are
disposed about and axially along the north and south formation sections 12N and 12S, third and
fourth sets of a plurality of active magnetic coils 36N and 36S are disposed about and axially along
the north and south acceleration sections 16N and 16S, and a fifth set of a plurality of active
magnetic coils 40 are disposed about and axially along the compression chamber 20.
The compression sections 14N, 14S, 18N and 18S are preferably formed from conducting
material such as, e.g., a metal, while the central compression chamber 20 and the formation and
acceleration sections are 12N, 12S, 16N and 16S are preferably formed from non-conducting or
insulating material such as, e.g., a ceramic.
As depicted, a plurality of DC magnetic coils 30 are disposed about and axially along the
central compression chamber 20 and the formation, compression and acceleration sections 12N, 12S,
14N, 14S, 16N, 16S, 18N and 18S to form a bias or DC guide field within and extending axially
through the central compression chamber and the formation, compression and acceleration sections.
Triggering control and switch systems 120, shown in Figures 2-4, are configured to enable a
staged symmetric sequence of compact tori formation by active magnetic coils 32N and 32S in the
north and south formation sections 12N and 12S, axial acceleration by active magnetic coils 36N and
36S in the north and south acceleration sections 16N and 16S, and compression by active magnetic
coils 40 in the compression chamber 20. The triggering control and switch systems 120 are
configured to synchronize compact tori formation and acceleration in the north and south formation
sections 12N and 12S, compact tori acceleration in the north and south acceleration sections 16N and
16S, and compact tori merge and compression in the compression chamber 20.
Turning to Figures 2-4, there is individual pulsed power system 120 corresponding to and
powering individual ones of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth sets of the plurality of active
magnets 32N, 32S, 36N, 36S and 40 of the formation sections 12N and 12S, the acceleration sections
16N and 16S, and the compression chamber 20. In the formation sections, the pulse power system
120 operates on a modified theta-pinch principle to form the compact tori. Figures 2 through 4
illustrate the main building blocks and arrangement of the pulsed power systems 120. The pulsed
power system 120 is composed of a modular pulsed power arrangement that consists of individual
units (=skids) 122 that each energize a sub-set of coils 132 of a strap assembly 130 (=straps) that
wrap around the section tubes 140. Each skid 122 is composed of capacitors 121, inductors 123, fast
high current switches 125 and associated trigger 124 and dump circuitry 126. Coordinated operation
of these components is achieved via a state-of-the-art trigger and control system 124 and 126 that
allows synchronized timing between the pulsed power systems 120 on each of the formation sections
12N and 12S, the acceleration sections 16N and 16S, and compression chamber 20, and minimizes
switching jitter to tens of nanoseconds. The advantage of this modular design is its flexible
operation. In the formation sections 12N and 12S, FRCs can be formed in-situ and then accelerated
and injected (=static formation) or formed and accelerated at the same time (=dynamic formation).
In operation, a DC guide field is generated by the passive coils 30 within and axially
extending through the compression chamber 20, the formation sections 12N and 12S, the
acceleration sections 16N and 16S, and the compression sections 14N, 14S, 18N and 18S. Compact
tori are then formed and accelerated in a staged symmetric sequence within the formation sections
12N and 12S and the acceleration sections 16N and 16S towards a mid-plane of the central chamber
, passively adiabatically compressed within the compression sections 14N, 14S, 18N and 18S, and
merged and magnetically compressed within the central chamber 20. These steps of forming,
accelerating and compressing compact tori results in the compact tori colliding and merging within
the central chamber 20.
The compact tori are formed and accelerated by powering active magnetic coils 32N and 32S
extending about and axially along the formation sections 12N and 12S, further accelerated by
powering active magnetic coils 35N and 36S extending about and axially along the acceleration
sections 16N and 16S, and compressed by powering active magnetic coils 40 extending about and
axially along the compression chamber 20. The steps of forming, accelerating and compressing the
compact tori further comprises synchronously firing diametrically opposed pairs of active magnetic
coils 32N and 32S, and 36N and 36S positioned about and along the formation 12N and 12S and
acceleration sections 16N and 16S, and a set of active magnetic coils 40 positioned about and along
the compression chamber 20.
As the compact tori are accelerated towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber 20,
the compact tori are compressed as the compact tori translate through the conically constricting flux
conservers of the compression stages 14N, 14S, 18N and 18S.
Turning to Figure 5, an alternative embodiment of a system 100 for merging and compressing
compact tori plasma is illustrated. As depicted, the system 100 comprises a staged asymmetric
sequence from a single side of the central compression chamber 20. The system 100 includes a
single compact toroid formation section 12S, a first compression section 14S coupled on a first end
to an exit end of the formation section 12S, an acceleration section 16N coupled on a first end to a
second end of the compression section 14S, a second compression section 18S coupled on a first end
to a second end of the acceleration section 16S and on a second end to a first end of the compression
chamber 20. A mirror or bounce cone 50 is positioned adjacent the other end of the central
compression 20.
In operation, a first compact toroid is formed and accelerated in a staged sequence within the
formation section 12S and then accelerated in one or more acceleration stages 16S towards a mid-
plane of the central chamber 20 to collide and merge with a second compact toroid. The first
compact toroid is passively adiabatically compressed within one or more compression stages 14S
and 18S, and then magnetically compressed as a merged compact toroid with the second compact
toroid within the central chamber 20.
The second compact toroid in formed and accelerated in a staged sequence within the
formation section 12S and the one or more acceleration stages 16S towards a mid-plane of the central
chamber 20, passively adiabatically compressed within the one or more compression stages, and then
biased back toward the mid-plane of the central chamber 20 as it passes through the central chamber
with a mirror or bounce cone 50 positioned adjacent an end of the central chamber 20.
Turning to Figure 6, an alternative embodiment of a system 200 for merging and compressing
compact tori plasma is illustrated in a partial detail view showing the compression chamber 20 with
diametrically opposed compression section 18N and 18S coupled to opposing sides of the chamber
. The system 200 further comprise a cylindrical shell or liner 60 positioned within the central
compression chamber 20 for fast liner compression.
While the invention is susceptible to various modifications, and alternative forms, specific
examples thereof have been shown in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be
understood, however, that the invention is not to be limited to the particular forms or methods
disclosed, but to the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives
falling within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
In the description above, for purposes of explanation only, specific nomenclature is set forth
to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one
skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the teachings of the present
disclosure.
The various features of the representative examples and the dependent claims may be
combined in ways that are not specifically and explicitly enumerated in order to provide additional
useful embodiments of the present teachings. It is also expressly noted that all value ranges or
indications of groups of entities disclose every possible intermediate value or intermediate entity for
the purpose of original disclosure, as well as for the purpose of restricting the claimed subject matter.
Systems and methods for merging and compressing compact tori have been disclosed. It is
understood that the embodiments described herein are for the purpose of elucidation and should not
be considered limiting the subject matter of the disclosure. Various modifications, uses,
substitutions, combinations, improvements, methods of productions without departing from the
scope or spirit of the present invention would be evident to a person skilled in the art. For example,
the reader is to understand that the specific ordering and combination of process actions described
herein is merely illustrative, unless otherwise stated, and the invention can be performed using
different or additional process actions, or a different combination or ordering of process actions. As
another example, each feature of one embodiment can be mixed and matched with other features
shown in other embodiments. Features and processes known to those of ordinary skill may similarly
be incorporated as desired. Additionally and obviously, features may be added or subtracted as
desired. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and
their equivalents.
Claims (28)
1. A system for merging and compressing compact tori plasma comprising a compression chamber, a first compact toroid formation section, the formation section comprising modularized formation and acceleration sections for generating a compact toroid and axially accelerating the compact toroid and translating the compact toroid towards a mid-plane of the compression chamber, a first compression section coupled on a first end to an exit end of the formation section, the first compression section being configured to adiabatically compress the compact toroid as the compact toroid traverses the first compression section towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber, a first acceleration section coupled on a first end to a second end of the first compression section, the acceleration section comprising modularized acceleration systems for axially accelerating the compact toroid and translating the compact toroid towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber, a second compression section coupled on a first end to a second end of the acceleration section and on a second end to a first end of the compression chamber, the second compression section being configured to adiabatically compress the compact toroid as the compact toroid traverses the second compression section towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the compression chamber is configured to magnetically compress the compact toroid.
3. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the formation section, the acceleration section and the compression chamber are cylindrically shaped, the diameter of the acceleration section being smaller than the diameter of the formation section and the diameter of the compression chamber being smaller than the diameter of the acceleration section.
4. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second compression sections are trunco-conically shaped with the diameter of the first and second compression sections being larger on the first end than on the second end.
5. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the formation section, the first and second compression sections, the acceleration section, and the compression chamber are axially aligned.
6. The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of active magnetic coils are disposed about and axially along the formation section, the acceleration section, and the compression chamber.
7. The system of claim 1 or 2, further comprising triggering control and switch systems configured to enable a staged sequence of compact toroid formation and axial acceleration by active magnetic coils.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the triggering control and switch systems are further configured to enable magnetic compression of the compact toroid by active magnetic coils in a staged sequence following the staged sequence of compact toroid formation and axial acceleration by active magnetic coils.
9. The system of claim 7, wherein the triggering control and switch systems are configured to synchronize the compact toroid formation and acceleration in the formation section and synchronize the compact toroid acceleration in the acceleration section with the positioning of a second compact toroid at the mid-plane of the compression chamber.
10. The system of claim 8, wherein the triggering control and switch systems are further configured to synchronize the compression of the compact toroid and the second compact toroid with the compact toroid formation and acceleration in the formation section, the compact toroid acceleration in the acceleration section and the positioning of the second compact toroid at the mid- plane of the compression chamber.
11. The systems of claim 1 or 2 further comprising a plurality of DC magnetic coils disposed about and axially along the compression chamber and the formation, compression and acceleration sections to form a bias or DC guide field within and extending axially through the compression chamber and the formation, compression and acceleration sections.
12. The system of claim 1 or 2 further comprising a cylindrical shell or liner positioned within the compression chamber for fast liner compression.
13. The system of claim 1 or 2 further comprising one of a mirror and a bounce cone coupled to a second end of the compression chamber.
14. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a second compact tori formation section diametrically opposed to the first compact tori formation section, the second formation section comprising modularized formation and acceleration systems for generating a second plasma compact tori and axially accelerating the compact tori and translating the compact tori towards a mid-plane of the compression chamber, a third compression section diametrically opposed to the first compression section coupled on a first end to an exit end of the second formation sections, the first and second compression section being configured to adiabatically compress the compact tori as the compact tori traverses the third compression section towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber, a second acceleration section diametrically opposed to the first acceleration section coupled on a first end to a second end of the third compression section, the second acceleration section comprising modularized acceleration systems for axially accelerating the compact tori and translating the compact tori towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber, and a fourth compression section diametrically opposed to the second compression section coupled on a first end to a second end of the second acceleration section and on a second end to a second end of first and second diametrically opposed ends of the compression chamber, the fourth compression section being configured to adiabatically compress the compact tori as the compact tori traverse the fourth compression section towards the mid-plane of the compression chamber.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the compression chamber is configured to magnetically compressing the compact tori upon collision and merger thereof.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the compression chamber comprises a modularized acceleration system for magnetically compressing the compact tori upon collision and merger thereof.
17. The system of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the first and second formation sections, the first and second acceleration sections and the compression chamber are cylindrically shaped, the diameter of the first and second acceleration sections being smaller than the diameter of the first and second formation sections and the diameter of the compression chamber being smaller than the diameter of the first and second acceleration sections.
18. The system of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the first, second, third and fourth compression sections are truncated conically shaped with the diameter of the first, second, third and fourth compression section being larger on first end than on the second end.
19. The system of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the first and second formation sections, the first and second compression sections, the first and second acceleration sections and the third and fourth compression sections are axially symmetric.
20. The system of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein a plurality of active magnetic coils are disposed about and axially along the first and second formation sections, the first and second acceleration sections, and the compression chamber.
21. The system of any one of claims 14 to 16, further comprising triggering control and switch systems configured to enable a staged symmetric sequence of compact tori formation in the first and second formation sections and axial acceleration by active magnetic coils in the first and second acceleration sections.
22. The system of claim 21, wherein the triggering control and switch systems are configured to synchronize the compact tori formation and acceleration in the first and second formation sections and synchronize the compact tori acceleration in the first and second acceleration sections.
23. The system of claim 22, wherein the triggering control and switch systems are further configured to synchronize the magnetic compression with the compact tori formation and acceleration in the first and second formation sections and the compact tori acceleration in the first and second acceleration sections.
24. The systems of any one of claims 14 to 16 further comprising a plurality of DC magnetic coils disposed about and axially along the compression chamber and the formation, compression and acceleration sections to form a bias or DC guide field within and extending axially through the compression chamber and the formation, compression and acceleration sections.
25. The system of any one of claims 14 to 16 further comprising a cylindrical shell or liner positioned within the compression chamber for fast liner compression.
26. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3, 8 to 10, 14 to 16 and 22 to 23 wherein the compact tori are one of FRC and spheromak starter plasmas.
27. The system of any one of claims 1 to 3, 8 to 10, 14 to 16 and 22 to 23 wherein the compression sections are formed from conducting material and the central compression chamber and the formation and acceleration sections are formed from non-conducting material.
28. The system of claim 1 substantially as herein described with reference to figures 1 – 6 and/or examples.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
NZ761567A NZ761608B2 (en) | 2014-10-13 | 2015-10-12 | Systems and methods for merging and compressing compact tori |
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201462063382P | 2014-10-13 | 2014-10-13 | |
US62/063,382 | 2014-10-13 | ||
US201462064346P | 2014-10-15 | 2014-10-15 | |
US62/064,346 | 2014-10-15 | ||
PCT/US2015/055172 WO2016061001A2 (en) | 2014-10-13 | 2015-10-12 | Systems and methods for merging and compressing compact tori |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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NZ730975A NZ730975A (en) | 2021-01-29 |
NZ730975B2 true NZ730975B2 (en) | 2021-04-30 |
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