3He reactor with direct electrical conversion

Abstract

An improved 3 He nuclear reactor with provision for direct electric conversion of a relativistic proton stream into useable electric power at a voltage level compatible with the national power grid (one million V DC). Various embodiments include multiple collector cages for extracting relativistic protons of various energy levels, diverter wires for deflecting high-energy proton streams to either side of lower energy cages to avoid unwanted impact. Other embodiments include arrangements for dividing multi-megavolt voltages down to a useable one megavolt level compatible with the national power grid. Further embodiments comprise guiding the proton stream by the cusps of magnetron cavities to permit conversion of the relativistic proton energies into microwave power. A proposal is also made for harvesting 3 He from the Moon to supply earth-bound and space-bound reactors. A solution to the problem of charging a potential well-forming anode in an electrostatic fusion reactor without electrical arcing is further disclosed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An electrostatic fusion reactor, comprising: 
 a vacuum chamber;    a potential well disposed in said vacuum chamber;    a partial vacuum environment in said vacuum chamber containing fusion reaction ions; and    one or more collector cages surrounding said potential well, said one or more collector cages being maintained at selected voltage levels corresponding to one or more energy levels of protons emitted from a fusion reaction occurring within said potential well, and being connected to deliver an electrical output.    
     
     
         2 . A fusion reactor according to  claim 1  wherein said one or more collector cages are series-connected to ground potential through one or more charge storage devices.  
     
     
         3 . A fusion reactor according to  claim 2  wherein there are ten collector cages respectively maintained at voltage levels ranging from 1 MV to 10 MV in 1 MV increments, with a 1 MV collector cage being the innermost one of said collector cages and a 10 MV collector cage being the outermost one of said collector cages.  
     
     
         4 . A fusion reactor according to  claim 3  wherein each collector cage is series-connected to ground potential through a bank of “n” 1 MV capacitors, where “n” is the MV potential of the collector cage.  
     
     
         5 . A fusion reactor according to  claim 4  wherein each said bank of capacitors associated with one of said collector cages is parallel-connected to banks of said capacitors associated with other of said collector cages.  
     
     
         6 . A fusion reactor according to  claim 1  further including diverter wires of higher potential than said collector cages placed adjacent to each of said collector cages to prevent protons from striking said collector cages.  
     
     
         7 . A fusion reactor according to  claim 6  wherein each diverter wire adjacent to a collector cage is connected to an adjacent collector cage of higher potential than the collector cage to which said diverter wire is adjacently located.  
     
     
         8 . A fusion reactor according to  claim 1  wherein there are several collector cages of different voltage, with the outermost collector cage having the highest voltage and being connected to a voltage potential source for fixing the voltage of said outermost collector cage.  
     
     
         9 . A fusion reactor according to  claim 1  wherein collector cage voltage levels are adjusted by controlling electrical current through said collector cages.  
     
     
         10 . A fusion reactor according to  claim 1  wherein said reaction ions are  3 He ions and said fusion reaction is a  3 He— 3 He reaction.  
     
     
         11 . A fusion reactor, comprising: 
 a vacuum chamber;    a potential well in said vacuum chamber;    a partial vacuum environment in said vacuum chamber containing fusion reaction ions; and    a magnetron disposed to receive protons emitted from a fusion reaction occurring within said potential well, and being adapted to produce a microwave output.    
     
     
         12 . A  3 He fusion reactor, comprising: 
 a vacuum chamber;    an outer grid disposed within said vacuum chamber and electrically connected to ground potential;    an inner grid disposed within said outer grid and electrically connected to a negative voltage potential;    a partial vacuum environment within said vacuum chamber containing  3 He ions; and    a sealed opening in an outer wall of said vacuum chamber to receive an electrode that electrically connects said inner grid to said negative voltage potential, said opening being sized according to the magnitude of said negative voltage potential to prevent arcing between said electrode and said vacuum chamber outer wall.    
     
     
         13 . A  3 He fusion reactor according to  claim 12  further including one or more collector cages surrounding said outer grid, said one or more collector cages being maintained at selected voltage levels corresponding to one or more energy levels of protons emitted from a  3 He fusion reaction occurring within said grids, and being connected to deliver an electrical output, said collector cages being spaced from each other and from said vacuum chamber outer wall to prevent electrical arcing.