TWI644325B - Fusion reactor - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention discloses a fusion reactor comprising a focusing panel disposed between a positive electrode and a negative electrode for channeling the helium ions along a predetermined path that may cause a fusion collision with the previous helium ions. Helium ions are introduced into the reactor adjacent to the positive electrode and then passed from the focusing panel through a decompression chamber and then toward the negative electrode. Once the helium ions strike the negative electrode, the helium ions will remain attached to the negative electrode such that subsequent helium ions that follow the same channel through the focusing panel are more likely to collide with them.

Description

Fusion reactor

This invention relates to nuclear fusion reactors. More specifically, the present invention provides a means for directing electrons and ions toward a location having a higher probability of collision and reaction.

The use of prior art methods to generate a fusion reaction requires that the ions be accelerated at a sufficient rate for reactions occurring in an environment having a sufficiently high ion density such that collisions between ions and the resulting fusion occur at a useful frequency. Attempts have been made to maintain this ion density by constraining ions using various combinations of potential differences, magnetic fields, acoustic waves, and inertia. Many prior art systems rely on implanting ions into concentric electrode structures in an attempt to cause ions to repeat through the center of the spherical structure at a sufficient velocity and with sufficient ion density to enable collisions between ions. Successfully generating a fusion reaction at room temperature while utilizing prior art remains a challenge. US 3,258,402, issued to P. T. Farnsworth, issued June 28, 1966, discloses a discharge device for creating an interaction between nuclei. The device includes a substantially spherical outer cathode and a porous, substantially spherical inner anode. Applying a voltage between the cathode and the anode causes both electrons and ions to flow toward the center of the anode. Inertia continues to carry electrons and ions through the center, and then, away from the center. The electrons and ions will then be pushed back towards the center again due to the attractive and repulsive forces originating from the opposite of the system and its similar charge. Adjacent to the center of the reactor leads to one possibility of collision between the particles. Robert Hirsch, Inertial Electrostatic Confinement of Ionized Gases, 38 JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSICS 4522, October 1967 describes research and experiments involving fusion reactions using concentric spheres designed to radially direct electrons and ions toward the center of the system High vacuum system. The system described herein comprises an ion-permeable spheroidal cathode concentrically surrounded by an ion-emitting spherical anode. The ions are drawn to the center of the spherical structure not only by the potential difference between the cathode and the anode but also by the presence of a virtual cathode formed by electrons injected into the system. A symmetrically placed ion gun injects a pen-shaped ion beam into the spherical structure. The cathode includes an open port opposite each ion gun. The cathode port includes a biasing assembly connected by an isolation transformer to a power supply for resisting electrons flowing out of the cathode and toward the anode. According to US 5,160,695, which is discussed in more detail below, the system described by the above reference requires a sufficiently high flow of electrons across the system cycle such that only electrons and/or ions are not comprised between various structures, such as the grid and/or walls of the system. The desired electron flow is achieved when the collision is removed. Thus, the presence of the grid structure in the path of circulating particulate flow prevents the growth of a sufficiently large circulating current required to obtain the desired system power gain value. US Patent No. 5,160,695 to R. W. Bussard, issued on November 3, 1992, discloses a method and apparatus for generating and controlling nuclear fusion reactions. The system uses a substantially spherical electrostatic field geometry to accelerate ions radially toward one of the centers of the spheres. The ions are accelerated at a sufficient rate of flux to initiate an ion sound wave having a wavelength that is smaller than the radius at which the start of the wave occurs. The ion acoustic wavelength is almost exactly one of the exact integer divisors of the circumference of the sphere at the core radial position at which the ion acoustic wave begins. This ensures that the ion current is resonantly coupled to all of the upward harmonics of the waves around the sphere. The incoming particles are captured in the acoustic structure and ejected through the core. The ion coupling and the resonant coupling of the ion acoustic waves cause the ions/waves to collide within a small core radius. These collision requests capture and constrain ions by collisional diffusion procedures within the core. Electrons are supplied to the inner region of the sphere by collision with neutral gases in the sphere region or by electron injection. Insertion of electrons prevents the growth of positive charge density caused by ion densification. The ions may also be added by direct injection of energy ions or by adding a neutral gas to the ion implantation region. In the latter case, the neutral gas is ionized by collision with electrons or ions. A concentric electrode array can be used. The electrodes are configured to form wireframe electrodes of approximately equal regions on a spherical surface surrounding one of the central regions. These electrodes are used to create a potential difference to accelerate the ions inward. The external concentric electrodes are used to decelerate or accelerate the ions that are otherwise ejected from the outside of the system by the internal ion acceleration field. Brian Naranjo, Seth Putterman, and Jim Gimzewski published on April 28, 2005, Observation of Nuclear Fusion Driven by a Pyroelectric Crystal, 434 NATURE 1115, which describes the use of an electromagnet of a thermoelectric crystal in a deuterated atmosphere to direct a beam of light toward a single beam. The target accelerates. The crystal can be heated or cooled, thereby increasing the spontaneous polarization of the crystal and the cumulative charge perpendicular to the plane of polarization. Heating the crystal reduces the spontaneous discharge of these electrons, thereby promoting a large potential increase. This potential can then be used to accelerate the ions. All of the systems described above are limited to accelerating ions through a ambiguous atmosphere. The ambience of the atmosphere causes many threshold collisions and leads to useless redistribution of kinetic energy. These systems also accelerate ions in a relatively wide cone angle, making the probability of effective collisions low. Therefore, there is a need for a fusion reactor that increases the likelihood of a collision that results in a fusion reaction while reducing the collision that does not result in fusion. There is a further need for a fusion reactor having one of the members that direct ions toward one of the locations where one of the other ions is present, thereby increasing the likelihood of creating a fusion collision.

The above needs are met by a fusion reactor. The fusion reactor has an air inlet having an outlet adjacent a positive electrode. A focusing panel having an atomic crystal structure defining one of a plurality of substantially straight channels therein is disposed adjacent to the positive electrode. The channels are oriented substantially perpendicular to the positive electrode. The channels are structured to direct the gas atoms along the path defined by the channels. A decompression chamber is disposed adjacent to the focusing panel opposite the positive electrode. A negative electrode is disposed on the opposite side of the decompression chamber. A method of permanently maintaining a fusion reaction is also disclosed. The method includes providing a positive electrode and a negative electrode, and applying a potential difference between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. A focusing panel is provided between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The focusing panel has an atomic crystal structure defining one of a plurality of substantially straight channels therein. The starting ions flow from the positive electrode through the focusing panel and to one of the negative electrodes. The ions passing through the channels in the focusing panel follow the path determined by the channel such that subsequent ions passing through the channel follow substantially the same path as the previous ions. Therefore, the subsequent ions strike the negative electrode where the previous ions are disposed at the negative electrode, thus increasing the possibility of a fusion reaction caused by the ion collision. These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the benefit of the present disclosure. Referring to Figure 1, a fusion reactor is illustrated. The fusion reactor 10 includes an inlet 12 for inserting helium into the system. The air inlet 12 is connected to a funnel 14 that terminates in one of the positive electrodes 16 at the wide outlet 18 of the funnel 14. One of the focus panels 20 is disposed adjacent to the positive electrode 16 as will be described in more detail below. The exit face 22 of the focus panel 20 is disposed in close proximity to a decompression chamber 24, wherein the pressure can be reduced by the vacuum system 26. The opposite side of the vacuum chamber 24 is formed by the target face 28 of the negative electrode 30. A heat transfer system 32 abuts the opposing faces 34 of the negative electrode 30. The positive electrode 16 is made of a multi-pile material such that helium ions inserted into the system through the gas inlet 12 can pass through the positive electrode 16 and are accelerated toward the negative electrode 30 by the potential difference between the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 30. Examples of the tantalum porous material include palladium, platinum or titanium. As a further alternative, the positive electrode can be a fine screen or mesh such that the crucible can pass through the opening in the screen or screen. The positive electrode 16 is also electrically coupled to a power supply (not shown, but is well known to those skilled in the art) positive terminal. Focusing panel 20 is made of a material that contains one of the microscopic, substantially straight channels therethrough. These channels are used to direct the erbium ions exiting the positive electrode 16 in a predetermined direction along a narrow predictable path. A permeable material can be used as the focusing panel. More specifically, Group 4A elements (such as carbon and ruthenium) in the Periodic Table of the Elements can form a crystal structure having a substantially straight path through which a ruthenium ion follows. An example of such a material is graphite which is thermally decomposed into a graphite, and a more specific example is high-order thermal decomposition into graphite. The crystal structure of graphite which is decomposed by high-order heating is shown in FIGS. 2 to 6. Each layer 40 of graphite is formed by a hexagonal lattice of carbon atoms, wherein the angle of each hexagon 42 is defined by a single carbon atom 44, and the bond 45 between the carbon atoms forms the side of the hexagon and between the layers Connection. As used herein, 44 generally refers to a single carbon atom, while 44a and 44b refer to a particular group of carbon atoms, as explained in more detail below. As shown in Figures 4 through 5, three of the six corners of each hexagon 42 are formed by carbon atoms 44a, while the remaining corners are formed by carbon atoms 44b. The carbon atoms 44a and 44b alternate in the respective hexagons 42. As shown in FIG. 3, each of the carbon atoms 44a is bonded to carbon atoms 44a in adjacent upper and lower layers 40. Each of the carbon atoms 44b is disposed within the center of one of the hexagons 42 defined by carbon atoms 44 in adjacent upper and lower layers 40. Viewing this structure perpendicular to layer 40 as shown in FIG. 2 shows a hexagon 42 divided into three substantially straight channels 46. These channels 46 extend completely through the focusing panel 20 in a direction substantially perpendicular to one of the layers 40. Channel 46 provides a substantially tight path for a helium ion that is relatively tightly constrained but fully usable. The center-to-center distance between the carbon atoms in each layer is 0.1415 nm, and the center-to-center distance between the graphite layers is 0.3354 nm. A carbon atom 44 has a diameter of about 0.22 nm containing an electron orbital, and a hydrogen atom has a diameter of about 0.1 nm including an electron orbital. The electron orbit is the majority of the empty space occupied by the orbiting electrons, with the nucleus of each atom being approximately 10 ^-15 m. The resulting electron shell overlap is illustrated in FIG. The passage of the electron orbit does not present a physical obstacle, but the electron orbit through the carbon electron orbit can cause some electronic interference through the passage of the electron. It is expected that a sufficiently high voltage potential between positive electrode 16 and negative electrode 30 will overcome any electrical interference. Thus, the repulsion between the crystal structure and the positive nuclei of the carbon atoms and the positive nuclei of the erbium ions as the erbium ions pass through the focusing panel 20 will tend to center the erbium ions within the channels 46. Graphite having a high degree of thermal decomposition into a desired layer orientation can be produced by currently known procedures. The examples include high-order thermal decomposition of graphite as described in U.S. Patent No. 4,968,,,,,,,,,,,, Alternatively, if the orientation of the layer is unknown, the conductivity and thermal conductivity of the graphite are significantly higher in a direction substantially parallel to one of the graphite layers than in a direction substantially perpendicular to one of the layers. Therefore, testing the conductivity or thermal conductivity in multiple directions can achieve the direction of the decision layer and thus determine the proper configuration of a focusing panel. As a further alternative, the graphite layer may have a high internal strength but a low inter-layer cohesion, so the layers are relatively easy to separate from each other, but the individual layers are extremely strong. Therefore, the physical properties of the graphite can be tested to determine the layer orientation. As a further alternative, since the positive electrode is made of a single porous material, the positive electrode can act as both an electrode and a focusing panel if the electrode itself defines a substantially straight channel within its crystal structure. The decompression chamber 24 is defined between the outlet face 22 of the focusing panel 20, the target face 28 of the negative electrode 30, and one of the insulating walls 48 extending around the periphery of the decompression chamber 24. An inlet 50 of the vacuum system 26 is defined within a portion of the insulating wall 48 along one side of the decompression chamber 24 that is coupled to a vacuum tube 52. The negative electrode 30 is made of a material having good thermal conductivity. Examples include titanium, titanium diboride, palladium and rhodium. Negative electrode 30 is electrically coupled to a power supply (not shown, but is well known to those skilled in the art) negative terminal. Thermal transfer system 32 includes a thermal transfer block 56 having a fluid filled tube 58 therein. The fluid fill tube 58 can also be coiled around the vacuum tube 52. In use, a voltage potential will be applied between the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 30. The voltage will be chosen to be large enough to cause 氘 to pass through the focusing panel 20, thereby overcoming any electronic interference. In the illustrated example, the voltage is greater than about 0.1 MeV. Helium ions will be inserted into the system through inlet 12, funnel 14 and positive electrode 16. The voltage potential between the positive electrode 16 and the negative electrode 30 will accelerate the erbium ions through the focusing panel 20, where the ions will pass through a relatively narrow, substantially straight channel 46 formed therein. The vacuum system 26 will be used to reduce the pressure within the reduced pressure chamber 24 to a pressure level corresponding to one of the average free paths greater than one of the electrode separation distances, thereby reducing the decompression chamber that is insufficient to create a fusion reaction. One possibility of collision. The ions will continue to travel through the decompression chamber 24, continuing to follow the path corresponding to the path defined by the channel 46 within the focusing panel 20 until the ions strike the negative electrode 30, becoming in or near the implant or target surface 28. Subsequent helium ions passing through the same channel 46 of the focusing panel 20 will follow a very similar path and will be directed towards the previously colliding helium ions that have been embedded on the target surface 28. The result is an increase in the probability of collision between the erbium ions. Thus, the fusion reactors described herein provide a means of enhancing the probability that ions will cause a fusion collision. The ions follow a predetermined path through the focusing panel and land in a predetermined position on the negative electrode. Therefore, subsequent ions passing through the focusing panel following the same channel are more likely to collide with previous ions at the negative electrode. Therefore, the efficiency of the fusion reaction is enhanced. A variety of modifications of the above-described embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms and without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The specific embodiments disclosed are intended to be illustrative only and not limiting the scope of the invention. The scope of the present invention should be indicated by reference to the appended claims.

10‧‧‧Fused reactor

12‧‧‧air inlet

14‧‧‧ funnel

16‧‧‧ positive electrode

18‧‧‧ wide exit

20‧‧‧ Focus panel

22‧‧‧Exit

24‧‧‧Decompression chamber/vacuum chamber

26‧‧‧ Vacuum system

28‧‧‧ Target surface

30‧‧‧Negative electrode

32‧‧‧Hot transfer system

34‧‧‧ facing

40‧‧‧layer/upper/lower

42‧‧‧hexagon

44a‧‧‧Carbon atoms

44b‧‧‧Carbon atoms

45‧‧‧ keys

46‧‧‧ channel

48‧‧‧Insulated wall

50‧‧‧ entrance

52‧‧‧vacuum tube

56‧‧‧heat transfer block

58‧‧‧Fluid filling tube

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of one of the fusion reactors. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the crystal structure of a focusing panel of one of the fusion reactors of Figure 1. Figure 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view showing the crystal structure of a focusing panel of one of the fusion reactors of Figure 1. 4 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a portion of a crystal structure of a focusing panel of one of the fusion reactors of FIG. 1. Figure 5 is a diagrammatic plan view showing a portion of a crystal structure of a focusing panel of one of the fusion reactors of Figure 1. Figure 6 is a diagrammatic plan view showing overlapping electron tracks in two layers of the hexagonal structure of Figure 2. The same component symbols refer to the same components in all figures.

Claims (6)

A nuclear fusion reactor comprising: an air inlet having an outlet; a positive electrode disposed adjacent to the outlet; a focusing panel disposed adjacent to the positive electrode, the focusing panel having Defining an atomic crystal structure of one of a plurality of substantially straight channels, the channels being oriented substantially perpendicular to the positive electrode, the channels being structured to direct gas atoms along a path defined by the channels, the focusing panel Made of graphite decomposed by heating; a decompression chamber disposed adjacent to the focusing panel opposite the positive electrode; and a negative electrode disposed adjacent to the decompression chamber, The focusing panel is opposite, the positive electrode and the negative electrode are connected to a power supply, and the power supply is structured to generate a voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode; a port is introduced, passes through the positive electrode, and continues through the focusing panel, through the decompression chamber, to the negative electrode along a substantially linear path; thereby passing through the channels in the focusing panel ion Tracking the paths determined by the channels such that subsequent ions passing through the channels follow substantially the same path as the previous ions, and subsequent ions strike the negative electrode where the previous ions are disposed on the negative electrode, resulting in at least one A sufficient amount of helium ions strike other helium ions on the negative electrode to produce a fusion reaction. The nucleus fusion reactor of claim 1, wherein the positive electrode is permeable to gas. The nucleus fusion reactor of claim 1, wherein the positive electrode covers the outlet of the gas inlet. A nucleus fusion reactor according to claim 1, wherein the focusing panel is made of graphite which is decomposed into a plurality of layers defining carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal shape. The nucleus fusion reactor of claim 4, wherein the layers of carbon atoms configured as hexagons are oriented substantially perpendicular to a direct path between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. The nucleus fusion reactor of claim 1, wherein the decompression chamber is operable to be coupled to a vacuum system, the vacuum system being structured to reduce a pressure within the decompression chamber to correspond to greater than the positive electrode and the One of the separation distances between the negative electrodes is one of the average free path pressure levels.