Rotating High Density Fusion Reactor for aneutronic and neutronic fusion

Abstract

An energy-producing fusion device produces fusion of neutral atoms and ions in an “aneutronic fusion” manner without neutrons as productsutilizes strong ion-neutral coupling at high neutral densities. Ions and neutrals rotate together in a cylindrical chamber due to frequent collisions. High magnetic forces make the attainment of high rotation energy possible; the magnetic field in a medium can be set at very high values because of the absence of magnetic charges. The repeated acceleration by strong magnetic forces in the azimuthal direction makes possible very high ion velocity. Fusion takes place mainly between neutral particles. This approach can be applied to fusion with neutrons as well. Conventional fusion schemes and neutron sources can be realized using the principles described above in the generation of neutrals of high energies and densities.

1 . A rotating fusion device comprising:
 (i) a superconducting magnet capable of generating an axial magnetic field;   (ii) a cylindrical chamber located in said magnetic field;   (iii) a discharge rod located in said cylindrical chamber;   (iv) an electrical power supply providing DC and pulsed operation to said discharge rod to develop an electric field perpendicular to said magnetic field;   (v) a cooling system capable of conducting heat from said cylindrical chamber;   (vi) a supply of hydrogen gas into said cylindrical chamber; and   (vii) a Boron target in said cylindrical chamber, wherein a plasma of ions and neutrals created by said hydrogen gas and Boron target is caused to rotate within said cylindrical chamber by said electric and magnetic fields at acceleration levels sufficient to cause fusion between particles in said plasma.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the ions and neutrals are driven by a magnetic force J×B to rotate together in the azimuthal direction in a cylindrical geometry in said cylindrical chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein said Boron target comprises the element Boron having a dominant isotope of B 11 . 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein plasma particles undergo the following fusion reaction as a result of repeated collisions between rotating B 11  and hydrogen neutrals or protons:
 p+B 11 →3 He 4 +8.7 MeV energy.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein a rate of reaction depends on the energy of B 11  and hydrogen. 
     
     
         6 . The device at  claim 4 , wherein the device is operated at high neutral densities of hydrogen and boron as a result of instabilities due to space charges not being present. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising two concentric electrodes to which 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 these concentric electrodes. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said radial current produces a strong torque to push ions in the azimuthal direction, causing collisions with neutrals and co-rotation of said neutrals with said ions. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said power supply 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. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the hydrogen gas is injected into the cylindrical chamber to interact with the rotating B 11  atoms in order to increase the relative energy between the colliding particles. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein 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. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein products of fusion are energetic alpha particles (He 4 ), which are used for direct conversion to electrical energy; and the slowing down of these alphas yields a charging current in a power supply. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein radiation loss due to electron bremstrahlung or electron cyclotron radiation is negligible due to electrons in said chamber being collisional as a result of high neutral densities such that said electrons are not accelerated by RF sources and/or high frequency radiation.