GB839247A - Gas discharge apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

839,247. Nuclear fission reactors; gas discharge apparatus. UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY. April 17, 1951 [April 18, 1950], No. 9443/50. Classes 39(1) and 39(4). Apparatus for producing thermo-nuclear reactions comprises a toroidal vessel for containing a gas at a low density and a primary conductor loop system in the vessel for inducing an orbital current flow in gas contained in the vessel to maintain the gas in an ionised energetic self-contained state. Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the apparatus wherein the toroidal vessel is made of two copper tubes 1, 2 joined together by quartz annuli 3, 4 and surrounded by a cooling jacket ; the vessel is provided with ports 5, 6 containing baffles to allow it to be evacuated and filled with gas at a desired pressure. Eight semi-circular conductors (of which four, 9a, 9b, 10a, 19b are shown), are arranged inside the toroid and are surrounded by conductive tubes through which an oil coolant may pass ; the conductors are joined together outside the toroid to form a primary winding of four, two or one turns surrounded by an iron circuit comprising metal tape 18 wound on a former. In operation the toroid is filled with gas, e. g. deuterium or tritium, to a pressure between 0À01 and 0À1 mm. of mercury, a steady flow of gas being maintained between the inlet and outlet ports to prevent the accumulation of impurities. A current of high frequency, e.g. 0À1 to 20 Mcs /sec., is established in the primary conductors and a ring discharge initiated in the gas by applying a high frequency voltage to an insulated electrode 17 projecting into the discharge space. When the discharge current has reached several hundred amperes, the discharge becomes constricted and the pressure may be reduced to 10-<SP>5</SP> mm. and the current increased by increasing the primary voltage.