WO2006025063A2

WO2006025063A2 - Apparatus and method for carrying out a controlled high energy plasma reaction

Info

Publication number: WO2006025063A2
Application number: PCT/IL2005/000936
Authority: WO
Inventors: Emil Rudyak; Yevgeniy Rudyak; Yuri Rudyak
Original assignee: Netanya Plasmatec Ltd.
Priority date: 2004-09-02
Filing date: 2005-09-01
Publication date: 2006-03-09
Also published as: WO2006025063A3

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for carrying out a controlled high energy plasma reaction, the apparatus including first and second plasmatrons arranged to have rising voltage-current characteristics, each plasmatron having an inlet to admit gas and an outlet to expel ion plasma, and a collision chamber associated with the first and second outlets, arranged to receive the ion plasma expelled from the outlets of the first and second plasmatrons and to allow collisions between ions from the first and second outlets, respectively, the collision chamber having a gas outlet, wherein the first and second plasmatrons are configured to generate first and second vortex plasma flows, respectively, having first and second rotational directions, respectively, and to propagate the first and second vortex plasma flows in first and second propagation directions, respectively, towards the collision chamber.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CARRYING OUT A CONTROLLED HIGH ENERGY PLASMA REACTION

Field of the Invention The invention relates generally to high energy plasma and, more particularly, to apparatuses and methods of producing high energy plasma and controlling reactions therewith.

Background of the Invention

There are ever-growing concerns over the impending exhaustion of energy resources on earth and the irreversible ecological effects of current energy production means, particularly concerns over the dependence of humanity on the limited oil reserves on earth and the ecological devastation associated with the use of oil as a primary energy resource. Due to these concerns, enormous efforts are being invested in the development of environmentally-safe, efficient energy resources. Particular efforts have been invested in attempts to utilize nuclear energy resources, which are virtually inexhaustible. Nuclear fission reactors have been in use for decades to produce electricity. However, fission reactors pose a great danger to humans and the environment and, thus, such reactors have not become sufficiently widespread to potentially replace conventional sources of energy. It is contemplated that controlled thermonuclear fusion will eventually become a primary source of energy on earth, because the thermonuclear fusion process is relatively safe to the environment and relies on abundant, inexpensive fuel, e.g., in the form of hydrogen isotopes. Unfortunately, a practical method or system to carry out controlled thermonuclear fusion has not yet been suggested. As known in the art, heavy hydrogen, deuterium, .or a mixture of deuterium and tritium are used as a fuel for energy release during the thermonuclear fusion reaction.

Energy is released during the thermonuclear fusion reaction, which forms helium nuclei from deuterons, as a result of deuteron collisions. To accomplish this, the energy of the fusing entities, e.g., deuterium ions, should be on the order of 100 keV/ion. Methods and apparatuses for producing energy by a controlled thermonuclear fusion reaction are known in the art. Attempts have been made to create a thermonuclear fusion effect by an apparatus utilizing the thermal energy of plasma from an electric discharge. The discharge is used as a conductor in which Joule heat is released as a result of electric current flowing through the plasma column. Unfortunately, this method has so far proven to be fundamentally ineffective. For example, the proposed electric discharge apparatus has drooping discharge voltage-current characteristics, specifically in the low pressure conditions that are necessary for controlled thermonuclear fusion to occur. It is known in the art that the Ohmic resistance of the plasma column decreases, i.e., the plasma conductance increases, as the plasma temperature is increased. It can be shown that the plasma may be heated in this way only up to the ion energy of about 1 keV/ion, which corresponds to a temperature of 10-10^{6 0}K.

As is known in the art, in order to produce a controlled thermonuclear reaction, the plasma must meet the following two Lawson Conditions:

1. The product of the density (n) of plasma consisting of heavy hydrogen ions by the time (τ) of energy retention in the plasma should be greater than 10¹⁴ cm^'3-sec.

2. The energy of heavy hydrogen ions, depending on their makeup, for example, deuterium and tritium, or deuterium only, should be at least 10 keV/ion and 100 keV/ion, respectively, corresponding to temperatures of 100-10⁶ and 1,000-10^{6 0}K, respectively.

Therefore, because of the drooping discharge voltage-current characteristics, the energy transferred to the ions in the electric discharge apparatus proposed by the prior art is 10 to 100 times lower than the energy required to meet the two Lawson conditions. All attempts in recent years to design apparatuses that might raise the plasma energy and density in order to meet the two Lawson Conditions above and, thereby, to initiate a controlled thermonuclear fusion reaction have failed. This is because such apparatuses could not overcome the inherent problem of drooping discharge voltage-current characteristics. Another method proposed by the prior art is to provide additional plasma heating by utilizing electromagnetic fields of different frequencies. This method allows energy to be increased from about ikeV/ion to about 2.2 keV/ion. However, this energy level is still insufficient to produce controlled thermonuclear fusion.

In existing apparatuses that are designed for operation with a permanently fired electric discharge, for example, Tocomac plants, power within the electric discharge is raised by increasing the electric current applied to the plasma. As a result of the drooping voltage-current characteristics, the voltage in the discharge decreases dramatically, such that the effective discharge voltage may be only a few volts. Although the energy of the ions in such an apparatus is higher than that of the electric discharge apparatuses described above, the increased ion energy is still insignificant.

United States Patent, 5,272,731 to Greene, issued December 21, 1993, entitled "Process and Apparatus to Increase Plasma Temperature in a Continuous Discharge

Fusion Reactor", the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, describes a vortex plasmatron, namely, an apparatus for producing high energy plasma by causing heated gas (e.g., hydrogen) to flow in a vortex. The hydrogen vortex flow enables increased plasma temperature in a continuous discharge reactor. In this apparatus, hydrogen is admitted through a plurality of supply inlets, which are arranged and oriented in a configuration suitable to initiate vortex flow in a desired direction. Hollow tubular electrodes are used to accelerate the plasma vortex. This results in increased plasma temperature and more control of the plasma flow. The apparatus may operate at a pressure of about lOcmHg. The apparatus described in this patent allows a significant reduction of about 50% in the loss of heat into the discharge zone. The apparatus utilizes the vortex flow to stabilize the electric discharge. Although the vortex flow improves the parameters necessary to create conditions conducive of thermonuclear fusion, the plasma heated by this apparatus is still insufficient to enable thermonuclear fusion. Is should be noted that, although the vortex flow plasmatron provides more stability, there may be a lower limit on the gas flow rate that may be achieved by this apparatus, e.g., due to problems associated with controlling the vortex mechanism to twist and stabilize the discharge. This limitation may limit the energy of the outgoing plasma. Consequently, the plasma temperature of this plasmatron may be relatively low, for example, 7,000 - 10,000 ⁰K, which is not sufficient to meet the second

Lawson condition. Summary of the Invention

The present inventors have conducted studies aimed at providing a plasmatron with a magnetically stabilized electric discharge in order to obtain rising discharge voltage- current characteristic. These characteristics provide an increasing ratio of plasma jet power to gas flow rate. The apparatus and method according to embodiments of the present invention enables a dramatic increase in parameters conducive of thermonuclear fusion, e.g., plasma energy and density, compared to conventional devices and methods. Embodiments of the invention may be utilized to carry out controlled reactions in high-energy plasma, for example, controlled thermal fusion of hydrogen isotope plasma.

Although the invention is not limited in this respect, it is an object of some embodiments of the invention to provide an apparatus to energize plasma of hydrogen and/or hydrogen isotopes, e.g., deuterium ions, at a sufficiently high density and energy to cause controlled thermonuclear fusion by collision of ions from different plasma flows, e.g., opposite vortex flows, in a reaction region, as discussed below.

The invention may be used, for example, in the fields of thermal power engineering and electric power engineering. In addition, the invention may be used in the motor, aviation, space and defence industries, for example, as an efficient energy source for thermonuclear engines, e.g., engines for space vehicles, submarines and automobiles.

In some embodiments of the invention, two coaxial vortex plasmatrons with opposite propagation directions, both plasmatrons having rising voltage-current characteristics, are arranged to interact in a reaction region. The plasmatrons may be designed and configured such that their vortex plasma flows advance and rotate in different (e.g., opposite) directions, both axially and rotationally, as they enter a reaction chamber, also referred to herein as an ion collision chamber. After interaction in the collision chamber, heated and possibly partly fused plasma, which may include helium atoms, may be pumped through a heat-exchange chamber using a vacuum pump.

Due to the rising voltage-current characteristics of the plasmatrons of the present invention, the output power of the plasma jet exiting the reaction chamber may be controllably increased, while maintaining a generally constant hydrogen mass flow, by increasing the power input at the plasmatron terminals. This results in an increase of the energy of the ions in the plasma, and may generate significant heat. Therefore, the plasmatrons of the present invention may have cooled tubular end electrodes and cooled tubular plasma outlet electrode. The tubular electrodes may be provided with external solenoids, which may be connected in opposition to each other. The plasmatrons may be further provided ^• with a magnetic conduit surrounding the solenoids and an inter-electrode insulator. The solenoids may be spaced apart by a predetermined distance, which may be selected such that the cross-sectional area of the annular between the solenoids may be smaller than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of cylindrical spaces defined by the solenoids. Electric power supply to activate the solenoids and empower the electrodes may be provided by conductors, which may extend through a gap between the electrodes along an outer periphery of the electrodes in parallel with the electrode longitudinal axes, whereby current may flow unidirectionally through the conductors.

According to embodiments of the invention, the kinetic energy of the accelerated ion motion is the prevailing plasma jet energy, rather than an over-all heating of the apparatus. Head-on beam collisions, e.g., in the reaction chamber, are used to increase the ion collision energy. To maximize the impact of these head-on collisions, the vortex plasma flows exiting the two plasmatrons may rotate in opposite directions, relative to each other, as they enter the collision/reaction chamber. For similar reasons, the cylindrical discharge chambers of the plasmatron outlet electrodes may be positioned coaxially with the collision chamber, and may have substantially identical diameters.

Brief Description of the Drawing

The subject matter regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of the specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with objects, features and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description when read with the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1, which is a schematic illustration of an apparatus for carrying out a controlled high energy plasma reaction in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the drawings have not necessarily been drawn accurately or to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity or several physical components included in one functional block or element. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the drawings to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. Moreover, some of the blocks depicted in the drawings may be combined- into a single function.

Detailed Description of Embodiments of the Invention

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates an apparatus for carrying out a controlled high energy plasma reaction in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The apparatus of Fig. 1 includes two interfacing plasmatrons, 14 and 15, respectively, which may be positioned substantially coaxially with each other. According to embodiments of the invention, both plasmatrons 14 and 15 have rising voltage-current characteristics, as discussed in detail below. The two plasmatrons are configured such that the direction of plasma flow in plasmatron 14 is generally opposite the direction of plasma flow in plasmatron 15. Furthermore, the direction of rotation of the vortex plasma flow in plasmatron 14 is generally opposite that of the vortex plasma flow in plasmatron 15. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that this configuration maximizes the impact of head-on collisions between ions of the respective vortex plasma flows of the two plasmatron, as the discussed below.

According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, each of plasmatrons 14 and 15 has a water-cooled tubular end electrode 1 and a water-cooled tubular outlet electrode 2, which are positioned to define respective discharge chambers 16 or 17, respectively, having a desired length, for example 0.5-10 meters, although the invention is in no way limited in this respect. Each of discharge chambers 16 and 17 may be provided with a plurality, e.g., two, circumferential solenoids 3. In some embodiments, solenoids 3 of each plasmatron may be surrounded by a magnetic circuit 4, which may be used to reduce magnetic field dissipation in the discharge chambers. Electrodes 1 and 2 may be separated from each other by an insulator 5. Power supply conductors 6, which may extend generally in parallel with the axes of electrodes 1 and 2, may be placed between the solenoids, e.-g., in a groove that may be formed in magnetic circuit 4. Each of plasmatron 14 and 15 may be enclosed in a casing 7, which may be electrically insulated, at least from one of the electrodes, for example, from end electrode 1 as shown in Fig. 1.

During operation of the apparatus, magnetic fields are formed within discharge chambers 16 and 17, as indicated by magnetic force lines 8. When the electrodes and solenoids are activated, electric discharges 9 are formed in chambers 16 and 17.

Insulator 5 may be formed with one or more, e.g., a plurality of tangential gas inlets

18, through which a desired gas (e.g., hydrogen, deuterium and/or tritium) may be admitted into the gap between electrodes 1 and 2. The location, shape, size and/or orientation of gas inlets 18 may be selected to assist in proper initiation of the vortex flow in plasmatrons 14 and 15, as discussed below.

Outlet electrodes 2 of plasmatrons 14 and 15, respectively, may be positioned coaxially, with a desired separation therebetween, and may be configured to define a collision/reaction chamber 10 having a desired shape and size. The inside diameters of the electrodes 2 may be substantially identical, although the invention is not limited in this respect. The apparatus of the invention may further include a heat exchange device, for example, a heat-exchange chamber 11, to receive heated plasma expelled from collision chamber 10. The heat produced in chamber 11 may be dissipated by external devices and may be used as an energy source, as is known in the art. A vacuum pump 12 may be used to assist in expelling the heated plasma from collision chamber 10 and heat exchange chamber 11 at a desired rate, to maintain a desired plasma flow in plasmatrons 14 and 15.

As the plasma the inlet gas is accelerated within chambers 16 and 17, from discharge regions 9, plasma vortices 13 are formed. The ions of plasma vortices 13 reach a desired velocity as they approach collision chamber 10 from opposite directions, along a common longitudinal axis 19. As discussed above, plasmatrons 14 and 15 are configured such that their respective plasma vortices 13 have opposite directions of rotation about longitudinal axis 19, as the two vortices propagate towards each other. The opposite rotational directions of vortices 13 as they approach collision/reaction chamber 10 are indicated by arrows at the output of vortices 13. A transverse axis 20 in Fig. 1 indicates the approximate plane of collision between ions of the two vortices 13 in chamber 10. It will be appreciated that the "head-on" collision configuration of the present invention, as shown in Fig. 1, maximizes the impact energy resulting from collisions between ions of the opposite vortices 13.

In some embodiments of the invention, an additional flow of gas (e.g., deuterium) may be admitted into collision chamber 10 to control the amount of energy released by the plasma reaction, e.g., through thermonuclear or otherwise. In some embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention, a cooling system may be used to cool discharge chambers 16 and 17, collision/reaction chamber 10, and/or heat-exchange chamber 11. Such cooling systems may have devices, e.g., sensors and processors, to measure various parameters of the reaction apparatus and/or the cooling system, e.g., the power of thermal losses in the apparatus. The cooling systems may rely on flow of water or any other suitable liquid coolant, as is known in the art.

In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, the apparatus may operate as follows. First the cooling system may be activated. The vacuum pump 12 may then be activated to ensure the desired flow of gas through the apparatus at a reduced pressure. This pumping results in gas inflow into chambers 16 and 17 through the tangential inlets 18 in inter-electrode insulators 5. The orientation and shape of inlets

18 initiates the desired vortex flow in discharge chambers 16 and 17, as shown schematically in Fig. 1. Solenoids 3 generate magnetic fields in chambers 16 and 17, along magnetic field force lines 8. The electric discharge in chambers 16 and 17 is then initiated in the inter-electrode gaps between electrodes 2. In some embodiments of the invention, the inter-electrode gaps, which may be located on the inner side of inter-electrode insulators 5 of plasmatrons 14 and 15, is relatively small, for example, about 2-3 mm, although the invention is not limited in this respect. Under the influence of magnetic field lines 8, and by virtue of the continuous tangential gas inflow from inlets 18, the electric discharges 9 propagates from the inter-electrode gaps into discharge chambers 16 and 17 with a desired rotational motion. Discharges

9 may then stretch in chambers 16 and 17 and assume the positions illustrated in Fig. 1. From this position, electromagnetic forces rotate the current-carrying plasma around longitudinal axis 19 of plasmatrons 14 and 15, thereby accelerating the plasma to a high rotational velocity. This accelerated rotation creates the desired high-energy plasma vortices 13 downstream chambers 16 and 17, and the two plasma vortices propagate towards a heads-on collision in collision chamber 10.

Electrodes 1 and 2 and solenoids 3 may be connected to an electric power supply (not shown in the drawing), thereby initiating electric discharges 9 in both chambers 14 and 15, in the gap between electrodes 1 and 2.At this point, the electromagnetic forces produced by electrodes 1 and 2 and solenoids 3 are operative to push discharges 9 away from the electrode gaps of discharge chambers 16 and 17, such that the two discharges 9 propagate towards collision chamber 10 from opposite directions. This results in "stretching" of discharges 9, as shown in Fig. 1, while causing the current- carrying plasma to rotate about longitudinal plasmatron axis 19. By varying the electric power applied to the discharges and the rate at which hydrogen flows into discharge chambers 16 and 17 via inlets 18, the desired conditions may be established. For example, in experiments performed by the inventor with hydrogen plasma, desirable operating conditions were achieved with a hydrogen flow on the order of G ~ 2-10¹⁸ ion/sec and an ion density on the order of n~ 10¹⁵ ion/cm³.

The above experiment was performed as a feasibility study with regular hydrogen flowing through a single plasmatron, similar to one of plasmatrons 14 and 15. The electrical and thermal characteristics of this experiment were measured in the discharge chamber of the plasmatron and at the plasmatron outlet. With a hydrogen flow as described above, the plasmatron had rising voltage-current characteristics, which enabled to control, e.g., to increase, the plasma jet power and ion energy by controlling, e.g., increasing, the power applied at the terminals of the plasmatron. The total discharge power, Ϋt, was estimated as the product of the discharge current I by discharge voltage, V, i.e., Pt=I-V. The flow of coolant (e.g., water) used to cool the discharge chamber and the coolant temperature at the inlet and the outlet of the cooling system (not shown in the drawing), after cooling the discharge chamber, were also measured. The power of thermal losses, Pl, into the discharge chamber was estimated based on the balance of energy lost with the coolant. Plasma jet power, Pj, carried from the discharge chamber with the hydrogen flow, G, was estimated according to ^'the difference between the total measured power and the power of heat losses to the discharge chamber, i.e., Pj=Pt - PI.

Based on the results of the above measurements, the mean energy, Wi, of the hydrogen ions leaving plasmatrons 14 and 15, before entering collision/reaction chamber 10, may be estimated as follows:

P₁ ■ 10³

Wi ^ -L keV/ion

¹ G - K wherein K represents an energy unit conversion ratio, e.g., K= 1.6- 10^"1 J/keV.

The average velocity of hydrogen ions leaving the discharge chamber, denoted V_1?, may be readily calculated from the kinetic energy of the ions, as is known in the art.

The experiment results are given in the following Table:

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the value of Wi in the above experimental results meets the Lawson condition for thermonuclear fusion. For the sake of comparison, the power carried by the plasma jet from the discharge chamber in drooping voltage-current characteristic plasmatrons, as are known in the art, does not exceed 0.32 kW with the same hydrogen flow, and the mean ion thermal energy in such conventional discharges does not exceed 1 keV / ion.

The use of two coaxially positioned plasmatrons having rising voltage-current characteristics, which are configured to provide output plasma flows in opposite axial and rotational directions, into a "head-on" collision chamber, which then connects directly to a heat-exchange chamber, wherein the rate of expulsion of plasma from the apparatus is controlled by a vacuum pump, according to embodiments of the present invention as described above, provides a way to significantly increase the energy of ion head-on collisions to in a controlled manner, and therefore may solve the problem of carrying out a controlled thermonuclear fusion reaction. Some embodiments of the present invention rely on the design of two or more plasmatrons, each having a cooled tubular end electrode and a cooled tubular outlet electrode separated by inter-electrode insulators, with oppositely connected external solenoids and magnetic circuits to reduce dissipation, as described above. The solenoids may be spaced apart by such a distance that the cross-sectional area of the annular space between the solenoids is smaller than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the cylindrical spaces defined by the solenoids. By virtue of this design, embodiments of the apparatus of the present invention exhibit rising current-voltage characteristics, which are operative to increase power and to reach a desired kinetic energy level of the plasma jet ions exiting the plasmatrons, for example, in the form of interfacing plasma vortices entering a collision chamber to interact by head-on collisions therein, as described above.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the electrical design of present invention, as described above, whereby power supply is provided to the solenoids and to the plasmatron electrodes via conductors that extend along the outer periphery of the electrodes over the electrode gap and in parallel with the plasmatron axes, such that current flows through the conductors unidirectionally, assists in enabling the desirable rising voltage-current characteristics of the apparatus of the present invention. Thus, when power at the plasmatron terminals (e.g., at electrodes 1 and 2) is raised, these characteristics allow ions to reach the required kinetic energy in the plasma jets, e.g., the plasma vortices, as they enter the collision chamber.

The provision of an ion collision/reaction chamber having a diameter similar or substantially identical to the diameter of the discharge chamber outlets of the two opposing plasmatrons, as described in detail above, allows a higher efficiency in utilizing the kinetic energy being dissipated in head-on ion collisions.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made. Embodiments of the present invention may include other apparatuses for performing the operations herein. Such apparatuses may integrate the elements discussed, or may comprise alternative components to carry out the same purpose. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for carrying out a controlled high energy plasma reaction, comprising: first and second plasmatrons arranged to have rising voltage-current characteristics, each plasmatron having an inlet to admit gas and an outlet to expel ion plasma; and a collision chamber associated with the first and second outlets, arranged to receive the ion plasma expelled from the outlets of said first and second plasmatrons and to allow collisions between ions from said first and second outlets, respectively, said collision chamber having a gas outlet, wherein the first and second plasmatrons are configured to generate first and second vortex plasma flows, respectively, having first and second rotational directions, respectively, and to propagate said first and second vortex plasma flows in first and second propagation directions, respectively, towards said collision chamber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

A heat-exchange device associated with the gas outlet of said collision chamber, to exchange heat produced in said collision chamber; and a vacuum pump to pump heated gas expelled from said gas outlet via said heat exchange device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said first and second plasmatrons comprises a tubular end electrode and a tubular plasma outlet electrode, the electrodes being shaped to define a tubular discharge chamber therein to generate said vortex plasma flow.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said first and second plasmatrons further comprises one or more solenoids externally associated with said discharge chamber, a magnetic circuit to reduce dissipation of magnetic fields generated by plasma in said discharge chamber, and an insulator between the first and second electrodes.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said one or more solenoids comprise at least two solenoids separated by a distance such that the cross-sectional area of an annular space defined between the two solenoids is smaller than the sum of the cross-sectional areas of cylindrical spaces defined by the two solenoids.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of said first and second plasmatrons further comprises power supply conductors leading to said two or more solenoids and to said electrodes, said conductors extending in a gap between said electrodes along an outer periphery of said electrodes, substantially in parallel with said first and second propagation directions, respectively, thereby to enable unidirectional current flow in said conductors.

7. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said collision chamber has first and second inlets to receive the plasma expelled from the outlets of the first and second plasmatrons, respectively, and wherein a diameter of said first and second inlets of the collision chamber is substantially the same as a diameter of said outlets of the first and second plasmatrons, respectively.

8. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said first and second propagation directions are generally opposite on a common propagation axis of said first and second plasmatrons, and wherein said first and second rotational directions are generally opposite relative to said common propagation axis.

9. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said ion plasma comprises ions of one or more hydrogen isotopes.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein a gas expelled from the gas outlet of said collision chamber comprises helium resulting from fusion of one or more of said hydrogen isotopes.

1 1. An apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein one or more components of said first and second plasmatrons are cooled by flow of liquid coolant through liquid conduits in said components.

12. A method of carrying out a controlled high energy plasma reaction, comprising: generating a first vortex plasma flow in a first plasmatron having rising voltage- current characteristics; generating a second vortex plasma flow in a second plasmatron having rising voltage- current characteristics; propagating the first vortex plasma flow towards a collision chamber from a first propagation direction; propagating the second vortex plasma flow towards said collision chamber from a second propagation direction, which is different from said first propagation direction; allowing collisions of ions of the first and second vortex plasma flows in said collision chamber; and expelling gas from said collision chamber at a desired rate.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein generating said first and second vortex plasma flows comprises: mletting gas into said first and second placations creating first and second ion discharges of said gas in first and second discharge chambers of said first and second plasmatrons, respectively; and accelerating the first and second ion discharges rotationally in said first and second discharge chambers, respectively, to cause rotation of said first and second vortex plasma flows in first and second rotational directions, respectively.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein said first and second propagation directions are generally opposite on a common propagation axis of said first and second plasmatrons, wherein said first and second rotational directions are generally opposite relative to said common propagation axis, and wherein allowing collisions of ions in said collision chamber comprises allowing head-on collisions of ions of the first and second vortex plasma flows, respectively, in said collision chamber.

15. A method according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein accelerating said first and second ion discharges comprises applying in said first and second discharge chambers electromagnetic fields that result in plasma having said rising voltage-current characteristics.

16. A method according to any of claims 12-15, wherein said gas comprises one or more hydrogen isotopes.

17. A method according to any of claims 12-16, wherein allowing collisions of ions of the first and second vortex plasma flows in said collision chamber comprises allowing fusion of two or more of said ions of a first element to into a second, different, element.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said first element is a hydrogen isotope and the second material is helium.

19. A method according to any of claims 12-18, comprising cooling one or more components of the first and second plasmatrons by providing a flow of liquid coolant through said components.