DE3113950A1 - Method for generating energy by nuclear fusion - Google Patents

Abstract

For the purpose of the nuclear fusion of light elements such as deuterium and tritium, the aim is to effect the mutual electrostatic repulsion not by thermal energy at extremely high temperatures but by acceleration in electric fields. To this end, magnetically focussed ions such as deuterium and tritium are accelerated separately by electric fields and fired at one another in an evacuated reaction tube in such a way that they collide at at least 10 KeV. One or more such reaction tubes are located in a pressurised water reactor and in addition are surrounded for the purpose of breeding tritium by tubular jackets which contain a suitable Li compound. The heat released in the reaction tubes and tubular jackets is dissipated to the surrounding water and then serves in a known way to generate steam.

Description

Description

To generate energy through nuclear fusion, it is necessary to have ions to accelerate suitable lighter elements, preferably of hydrogen isotopes, so that that the electrostatic repulsive forces are overcome and that in the event of collisions to a fusion of the nuclei involved, releasing a considerable amount of energy comes.

The acceleration required for fusion is lowest with the reactants deuterium and tritium (1 H + here an acceleration of approx. 10 KeV is sufficient However, this reaction has the disadvantage that only 20% is generated directly as heat, which is removed by the neutrons. This energy can only be used in subsequent reactions with 7 6 7/3 Lt and 6/3 Li. Ele + 1 H t He + 1 H + fast slow slow Because of the comparatively low required acceleration energy of only approx. 10 KeV and the large energy gain (17.6 meV) that can be achieved, all attempts at usable controlled nuclear fusion concentrate on this reaction, which has already been practically implemented in thermonuclear explosive devices.

All current attempts have the required acceleration 2 response H and the reaction partner 1 H and l H to reach 10 keV are aimed at to ignite the fusion reaction by heating it to approx. 100,000,000 K and at this point Entertain temperature.

The two main ways of achieving this goal are magnetic Compression and explosion through concentrated laser radiation. Neither of these procedures with its multiple variants has so far led to success. Also the required Technology for the permanent control of such high temperatures has not yet been developed.

The aim of the present invention is a fusion reaction that occurs in comparatively low temperatures works, the more so with means of the state of the art Technique to create a fusion reactor.

This process of generating energy through fusion is characterized in that lightweight elements suitable for fusing, preferably Deuterium and tritium are ionized separately in a known manner, these ions accelerated by electric or magnetic fields in a known manner to 5 to 100 keV and bundled into rays that are as thin as possible. The bundled, accelerated Ions are made from both ends in a reaction tube that conducts heat well, with neutrons Little reactive material passed so that both types of ions inside the tube meet and there is a sufficiently large number of collisions with Nuclear reactions after D + T = He + n comes.

In the preferred embodiment, the reaction tube has the side from the entry windows for the ion bundle suction nozzle for evacuation, in the hot cathodes protrude, one or more reaction tubes are known per se Way housed in a pressure vessel in such a way that flowing cooling medium, preferably water, which dissipates the heat generated by the nuclear reactions quickly and can be used in a known manner to generate usable energy, is separated from it at a distance of a few cm and by the cooling medium each reaction tube arranged a double-walled jacket tube, which is made of good thermal conductivity and with neutrons little reactive material consists and with, on a well gas-permeable Matrix finely distributed 6Li and 7Li, or their connections is filled, flows through a slow flow of a suitable carrier gas, preferably He, the jacket tubes by the 7th n + 7Li 4He 4 T + n or 6.4 reactions n + Li = He + T + n or Remove n + Li = He + T formed gases and send them to separation and processing.

Of course, other D and / or Ds suitable for nuclear fusion can also be used T can be used.

The principle of the claimed method can be described as follows: The two reactants, preferably deuterium and tritium, are known Way, e.g. B. ionized by induction heating. By passing through a field of tension these ions are accelerated to 5 - 10 keV and too largely by magnetic fields parallel ions radiate from for example bundled under 1 mm. The bundled ion beams are drawn from both sides into a tube from a well thermally conductive, low neutron absorbing material, preferably zircalloy or beryllium so that it is exactly in the middle of this reaction tube meet each other. The amount of accelerated ions is to be set so that that the heat released during their fusion is continuously dissipated through the pipe walls can be.

The reaction tube is in the center of a double-walled tube of the like Material (preferably zircalloy or beryllium) housed so that between Reaction tube wall and the inner wall of the jacket tube a distance on all sides of at least 5 cm. The space between the two walls of the jacket pipe is loosely filled with Li metal or suitable Li compounds, preferably LiD. An inert gas, preferably He, flows through it through the reaction of the neutrons formed with the Li, in particular the 3 produced 1 H2 to dissipate.

One or more reaction tubes with jacket tubes are so in one housed shielded water tanks known from nuclear fission technology, that the water can flow freely between the reaction tube and the jacket tube. To neutrons, the inner wall that has escaped the reaction with Li can still be used of the water tank also consists of a double wall containing a Li compound formed, which is also flowed through by an inert gas.

The reaction tube or tubes are vacuum-tight on both sides Ceramic tubes with the coils, magnets and electrodes for acceleration and Bundling of the ions are equipped, connected to the respective ion source.

Located in the immediate vicinity of the connection with the ceramic pipes suction nozzles, each containing a hot cathode, around ions that do not react have to be converted back into the atomic or molecular form.

The suction nozzles are connected to pipelines that have a preferably cryogenic gas absorbers are connected to a vacuum pump, which in creates and maintains the required vacuum throughout the system. The absorbed Gases are separated and deuterium and tritium are recovered via a storage container fed to the reaction cycle. The gases from those containing Li are also corresponding double-walled pipes refurbished.

The considerable heat generated in the various reactions is used to heat the cooling water and in a known manner for operation used by turbines to generate electrical energy.

Since the radiation exposure of a power plant working on this basis is significantly lower than that of a comparable Fission power plant, can such systems be built in the immediate vicinity of cities, so that the waste heat can easily be used as district heating.

Another advantage of the claimed method is that it is quick Heat-up and cool-down time, so that power plants on this basis are good for generating Peak loads can be used.

Claims (6)

Process for generating energy by nuclear fusion claims »Process for generating energy through nuclear fusion characterized by that light elements suitable for fusion, preferably deuterium and tritium be ionized separately in a known manner, these ions by electrical resp. magnetic fields are accelerated in a known manner to 5 to 100 keV and as much as possible thin rays are bundled. The bundled, accelerated ions are from both ends in a reaction tube made of highly thermally conductive, little reactive with neutrons Material passed so that both types of clay meet inside the pipe and there is a sufficiently large number of collisions with nuclear reactions D + T - He + n is coming. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the reaction tube to the side of the entry windows fiird the ion bundle suction nozzles for evacuation has, protrude into the hot cathodes. 3. The method according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that a or several reaction tubes in a manner known per se in a pressure vessel as above are housed that by flowing cooling medium, preferably water, through the heat generated by the nuclear reaction is quickly dissipated and used in a known manner Generation of usable energy can be used. 4. The method according to the preceding claims, characterized in that that at a distance of a few cm and separated from it by the cooling medium in order to each reaction tube a double-walled jacket tube is arranged, which is made of highly thermally conductive and with neutrons little reactive material consists and with, on a well gas-permeable Matrix finely distributed 6Li and 7Li, or their connections is filled. 5. The method according to 4, characterized in that a slow flow a suitable carrier gas, preferably He, flows through the jacket pipes around the to remove gases formed by the reactions n + Li = 4He + T + n, or n + Li = 4He + T and to a separation and processing. 6. The method according to the preceding claims, characterized in that that other elements suitable for nuclear fusion are also used instead of D and / or T. will.