GB2234850A

GB2234850A - Fusion reactor apparatus.

Info

Publication number: GB2234850A
Application number: GB8917294A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christer Stenbacka
Original assignee: DEUTRONIC Ltd
Current assignee: DEUTRONIC Ltd
Priority date: 1989-07-28
Filing date: 1989-07-28
Publication date: 1991-02-13
Also published as: GB8917294D0; WO1991002361A1; AU6169090A

Abstract

This invention relates to a nuclear fusion reactor, to a nuclear reactor having a plurality of adjacent reactor units, to a method of operating such a nuclear reactor, and to ion beam treatment apparatus for treating a target; in another aspect, the invention relates to a method of treating an optical fibre. A fusion reactor comprises a stack of units (10) each comprising a pair of annular, coaxially disposed magnets (12). The magnets (12) capture and store ion beams which are capable of being deflected rectilinearly through a target region located on a common axis at the centre of the annuli. The present invention provides a target mechanism (14) operative to dynamically pass the target material (16) through successive target regions. Each unit (10) is arranged to provide different particle beams such that pre- and post-reaction treatment of the target material may conveniently be undertaken as well as nuclear fusion itself. Similar apparatus is used for optical fibre implantation and other treatment, substituting the fibre for the target (14, 16).

Description

FUSION REACTOR APPARATUS The present invention relates to fusion reactor apparatus particularly of the type described in PCT Patent Application PCT/SE86/00542 (published 4th June 1987 under No. WO 87/03416). This invention is concerned with improvements relating to the previously described fusion reactor and method of producing fusion reactions.

The above identified patent application describes the production and storage of ion beams using two annular.

coaxially disposed magnets with a reaction or target area located at the centre of the annuli. Using magnetic and/or electric fields, the ion beams are deflected from their circular storage path so as to pass through the target area. It is stated that the target area can comprise a vacuum, relying upon reactions between ions. or a target material. Target materials which are specifically mentioned are deuterium gas, tritium gas and heavy paraffin. The present invention is concerned with improvements to the target and improved efficiency resulting therefrom.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a fusion reactor having a target area and comprising a target mechanism operative to dynamically pass a target material through the target area.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided fusion reactor apparatus comprising two or more fusion reactors each having a respective target area, the apparatus comprising a target mechanism operative to dynamically pass a target material through the target areas.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of improving the efficiency of fusion reactions in a fusion reactor having a target area, comprising the step of dynamically passing a target material through the target area.

Preferably the method of improving efficiency comprises the steps of arranging a plurality of fusion reactors, each having a respective target area, adjacent each other and dynamically passing the target material sequentially through the target area of each of the reactors.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a schematic view of a stack of fusion reactors including a target mechanism.

Figure 1 illustrates a stack of three fusion reactors 10, each of the reactors being of the form described in the above mentioned PCT patent application.

Specifically, each of the reactors comprises a pair of annular, coaxially disposed magnets 12 together with other apparatus and components (as described in the PCT application) for the production and storage of ion beams. The ion beams are stored in circular paths and are capable of being deflected through the respective target area of each reactor, which is located at the centre of the annuli.

All three of the reactors 10 are coaxially aligned and an elongate element 14, as illustrated in figure 1, passes along the common axis of the three reactors. In the illustrated arrangement, elongate element 14 is a thread having secured along its length a number of equally spaced pellets 16 of a target material. The pellets 16 may be formed of palladium, indium, tritium or a deuterium containing material such as heavy paraffin.

The reactor apparatus includes a mechanism (not shown) for causing the elongate element 14 to move along the common axis of the reactors. The ion beams respectively stored in the three reactors 10 may be generated from sources of different materials, whereby interaction of the ion beams in the respective target area with pellets 16 cause different reactions to occur. Thus, as elongate element 14 moves along the common axis of the reactors, any particular pellet 16 is sequentially "treated" in the target area of each reactor in turn.

For example, the reactions which are caused to occur in the respective target areas of the first two reactors may result in the removal of impurities from the target material 16 and enhancement of the essential component of the material, for example the number of deuterium ions. The target material 16 thus prepared in the first two reactors is moved into the target area of the final reactor where the arrangement is such as to cause fusion reactions to take place, in the manner described in the above mentioned PCT application.

The mechanism for moving the elongate element 14 along the common axis of the reactors 10 may include a system whereby the element 14 is in a continuous loop, such that pellets 16 are cyclically passed through the reactors. In this case, the first reactor 10 could be arranged so as to replenish those elements of the target material 16 which are consumed in the fusion reaction.

Of course, the use of the individual reactors could be arranged in an alternative sequence, for example with the first reactor cleaning the target material, the second reactor involving fusion reactions and the third reactor being used to replenish the target material.

It is believed that the provision of a dynamic target in the above described manner can result in efficiency improvements with orders of magnitude of many thousands.

Various modifications of the illustrated target mechanism are possible. Instead of pellets 16 being secured on a elongate element, the pellets may alternatively be arranged to fall under the force of gravity through the target areas of each of the reactors. This could be a single-pass arrangement or the pellets could be collected and transported back to the top of the stack of reactors for a further pass through the target areas. Another alternative is use of conveyor belt instead of a thread as the elongate element 14. In a further variation the elongate element 14 could itself constitute the target material. That is, the thread carrying target pellets 16 could be replaced by a wire of target material, for example formed of palladium.

Other modifications and embodiments of the invention will be apparant to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the above description. Such modifications and embodiments are covered by the inventive concept of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fusion reactor having a target area and comprising a target mechanism operative to dynamically pass the target material through the target area.

2. Fusion reactor apparatus comprising two or more fusion reactors each having a respective target area, the apparatus comprising a target mechanism operative to dynamically pass the target material through the target areas.

3. A reactor or apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the target mechanism is arranged to cycle the target material through the target area or areas.

4. A reactor or apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the target mechanism comprises a conveyor belt.

5. A reactor as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the target material is in the form of pellets and the target mechanism is arranged to cause the pellets to fall through the target area or areas under the force of gravity.

6. A reactor or apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the target material is in the form of pellets spaced apart on a elongate element and the target mechanism is arranged to move the elongate element through the target area or areas.

7. A reactor or apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1-3, wherein the target material is in the form of an elongate element and the target mechanism is arranged to move the elongate element through the target area or areas.

8. A reactor or apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the elongate element is formed of palladium.

9. A reactor or apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the target material is formed from one of the following: palladium, indium, tritrium and heavy paraffin.

10. A method of improving the efficiency of fusion reactions in a fusion reactor having a target area, comprising the step of dynamically passing a target material through the target area.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, comprising the steps of arranging a plurality of fusion reactors, each having a respective target area, adjacent each other and dynamically passing the target material sequentially through the target area of each of the reactors.

12. A method as claimed in claim 11, including the step of arranging for each of the reactors to operate with ions of respectively different materials for each reactor.

13. A fusion reactor including a target mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

14. Fusion reactor apparatus including a target mechanism substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

15. A method of improving the efficiency of fusion reactions substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.