Heavy Ion Plasma Energy Reactor

Abstract

A method for generating electricity includes generating electricity at a first reactor with a nuclear fuel element and removing the nuclear fuel element from the first reactor. The method also includes providing the nuclear fuel element at a second reactor and generating electricity at the second reactor with the nuclear fuel element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of generating electricity, the method comprising:
 generating a first amount of electricity at a first reactor with a nuclear fuel element during a first period of time, wherein the nuclear fuel element produces a first amount of heat during the generation of the first amount of electricity; and   generating a second amount of electricity at the first reactor with the nuclear fuel element during a second period of time, wherein the nuclear fuel element produces a second amount of heat during the generation of the second amount of electricity,   wherein the second amount of heat is less than the first amount of heat.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first amount of electricity is greater than the second amount of electricity. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nuclear fuel element comprises:
 a neutron-producing material;   a neutron-moderating material; and   a neutron-consuming material.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the nuclear fuel element comprises:
 an anode;   a cathode;   a plasma having a first side facing the cathode and a second side facing the anode; and   a nuclear fuel.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising ionizing the plasma with a charged particle. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising fissioning the nuclear fuel at the first reactor during the first period of time, wherein generating electricity during the second period of time does not include fissioning the nuclear fuel. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 producing neutrons at a neutron source during the first period of time;   turning off the neutron source; and   generating a temperature gradient between a first side of the plasma and a second side of the plasma during the second period of time.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein fissioning the nuclear fuel includes:
 generating fission fragments including a neutron; and   converting the neutron into a proton.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the nuclear fuel element includes a thin cladding, the method further comprising inhibiting, with the thin cladding, the fission fragments from escaping a nuclear fuel of the nuclear fuel element. 
     
     
         10 . A system for generating electricity, the system comprising:
 a first reactor configured to generate electricity from a nuclear fuel element during a first period of time, the first reactor including a first anode and a first cathode, the first anode having a first surface area, and the first cathode having a second surface area; and   a second reactor configured to generate electricity from the nuclear fuel element during a second period of time following the first period of time, the second reactor including a second anode and a second cathode, the second anode having a third surface area greater than the first surface area, and the second cathode having a fourth surface area greater than the second surface area.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising the nuclear fuel element, wherein the nuclear fuel element comprises:
 an anode;   a cathode;   a plasma having a first side facing the cathode and a second side facing the anode; and   a nuclear fuel.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a neutron-producing material;   a neutron-moderating material; and   a neutron-consuming material.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a cladding disposed about the neutron-producing material. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first reactor is configured to generate electricity by fissioning the nuclear fuel; and   the second reactor is configured to generate electricity by ionizing a plasma.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first side of the plasma has a first temperature;   the second side of the plasma has a second temperature; and   the first temperature is greater than the second temperature.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the second reactor includes a second anode and a second cathode. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the anode has a first surface area, the second anode has a second surface area greater than the first surface area, the cathode has a third surface area, and the second cathode has a fourth surface area greater than the third surface area. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the first reactor is configured to generate a first amount of heat with the nuclear fuel element; and   the second reactor is configured to generate a second amount with the nuclear fuel element.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the first amount of heat is greater than the second amount of heat. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first reactor includes:
 a neutron source configured to produce a neutron;   a material configured to absorb a neutron produced by the neutron source; and   a neutron-moderating material configured to reduce a velocity of the neutron.