GB825026A - An arrangement for the production of shock waves in rapid sequence inside a shock wave chamber - Google Patents

Abstract

825,026. Nuclear fusion reactors. SCHMIDT, P. Sept. 4, 1957 [Sept. 14, 1956], No. 27893 /57. Class 39(4). An arrangement for the production of shock waves in quick succession inside a shock-wave chamber, especially for heating the region in the centre of a hollow cylindrical or hollow spherical thermonuclear reactor, is characterized in that a thin layer of flowing explosive mixture serving for the production of a shock wave is introduced periodically on to a wall of the shock wave chamber that reflects shock waves, preferably along the whole extent of the wall, and is each time ignited simultaneously over its whole extent. In one arrangement, Fig. 1, fuel and oxidant, e.g. a hydrocarbon and oxygen, are fed separately into a cylindrical chamber through apertures in an end wall 2 of the chamber ; an explosive mixture is fed into the chamber near the opposite end wall 3 through a pipe 6 and ignited. The shock wave thus produced travels down the chamber and ignites the mixture admitted through the wall 2 ; the shock wave is reflected at the wall 2, travels back to the wall 3 where it is again reflected, and returns to ignite a further charge of fuel and oxidant admitted through the wall 2. Exhaust gases may be removed through apertures 28 in the wall of the chamber. In another arrangement, Fig. 3 (not shown), shock waves are produced in a spherical chamber, and when the pressure in the chamber reaches 40 atmospheres, hydrogen is admitted and is stated to undergo a nuclear fusion reaction. The increased pressure caused by this reaction allows water to be admitted to the chamber and converted to steam which is led away and used, for example in a steam turbine. Specification 774,052 is referred to.