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US4035656A
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Method and apparatus for use in approaching thermonuclear temperatures using turbulent thermal insulation
Assignee: General Atomics Corp
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Filing: 1975-05-27
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Granted: 1977-07-12
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Expires: 1995-05-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus is disclosed for insulating a plasma using turbulent thermal insulation for the purpose of approaching thermonuclear temperatures. It includes a hollow cylinder of a metallic hydride of predetermined size which is encapsulated by an outer metallic cylinder which seals the hollow cylinder, including the ends thereof. A mixture of deuterium and tritium gas is placed within the hollow cylinder at a pressure of about 11/2 atmospheres and auxiliary and main power supplies are sequentially applied to the cylinders to respectively form a plasma and inject an electron beam into the plasma. The thermal conductivity is reduced by the resulting electron turbulence.
Inventors
- 👤 Tihiro Ohkawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:15
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/24; H05H1/48
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for use in approaching thermonuclear temperatures using turbulent thermal insulation comprising: a hollow cylinder comprised of a metallic hydride, said cylinder having a predetermined inside diameter and length; an outer metallic cylinder encapsulating said hollow cylinder to thereby seal the same; said hollow cylinder being filled with a gaseous mixture of hydrogen isotopes having an atomic weight in excess of one at a pressure of about 1.5 atmospheres; means for producing an electric current through said outer metallic cylinder for vaporizing the same and produce a plasma within said hollow cylinder; and, means for introducing an electron beam into the plasma.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
102 words
Apparatus for use in approaching thermonuclear temperatures using turbulent thermal insulation comprising: a hollow cylinder comprised of a metallic hydride, said cylinder having a predetermined inside diameter and length; an outer metallic cylinder encapsulating said hollow cylinder to thereby seal the same; said hollow cylinder being filled with a gaseous mixture of hydrogen isotopes having an atomic weight in excess of one at a pressure of about 1.5 atmospheres; means for producing an electric current through said outer metallic cylinder for vaporizing the same and produce a plasma within said hollow cylinder; and, means for introducing an electron beam into the plasma.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the inside diameter of said hollow cylinder is about 6 millimeters and the length is about 1 centimeter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said metallic hydride is lithium deutride.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said metallic cylinder is comprised of lithium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said electric current producing means comprises a power supply applied across the ends thereof, said power supply providing at least about 5 kilojoules of energy at a voltage of about 50,000 volts for a period of at least about 100 nanoseconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said gaseous mixture is comprised of deuterium and tritium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said electron beam introducing means comprises a second power supply applied across the end portions of said plasma, said power supply providing about 100,000 joules of energy at a voltage of about 600,000 volts for a period of a few microseconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein one of the end portions of said outer metallic cylinder may comprise a thin flat metallic foil member adjacent the end of said hollow cylinder to enclose the same, said foil member being inside said outer metallic cylinder and having an annular insulator on the opposite side of said foil member and a cathode located adjacent said insulator, said electron beam introducing means being connected to said cathode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said electric current producing means is connected to said outer metallic cylinder and said cathode is in contact with said insulator and out of contact with said outer metallic cylinder.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of thermally insulating a plasma for a predetermined period of time using electron turbulence for the purpose of producing neutrons, comprising the steps of: firing a first power supply across the ends of a hollow hydrogen cylinder, said cylinder having a predetermined inside diameter and length and containing hydrogen gas at a predetermined pressure within the range of about one and about three atmospheres, the firing causing an electric current to flow through said cylinder and vaporize the same and produce a plasma; and, firing a second power supply across said plasma to inject an electron beam therein.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of thermally insulating a plasma for a predetermined period of time using electron turbulence for the purpose of producing neutrons, comprising the steps of: firing a first power supply across the ends of a hollow hydrogen cylinder, said cylinder having a predetermined inside diameter and length and containing hydrogen gas at a predetermined pressure within the range of about one and about three atmospheres, the firing causing an electric current to flow through said cylinder and vaporize the same and produce a plasma; and, firing a second power supply across said plasma to inject an electron beam therein.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said hollow hydrogen cylinder is comprised of solid hydrogen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said predetermined inside diameter is about six millimeters and said predetermined length is about one centimeter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said hollow hydrogen cylinder is comprised of metallic hydride.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said second power supply has a stored energy of about 100,000 joules and is applied at a voltage of about 600,000 volts for a period of a few microseconds.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said predetermined period of time is long enough to satisfy the Lawson criterion of nτ≧10 14 cm.sup. -3 sec.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as defined in claim 10 wherein said first power supply has a stored energy of about 5,000 joules and is applied at a voltage of about 50,000 volts for a period of about 100 nanoseconds.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of thermally insulating a plasma for a predetermined period of time using electron turbulence for the purpose of producing neutrons comprising the steps of: filling a hollow cylinder of a predetermined inside diameter and length with hydrogen gas at a high pressure; and, thereafter firing an electron beam producing power supply to inject an electron beam in the hydrogen gas to produce an expanding plasma.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
67 words
A method of thermally insulating a plasma for a predetermined period of time using electron turbulence for the purpose of producing neutrons comprising the steps of: filling a hollow cylinder of a predetermined inside diameter and length with hydrogen gas at a high pressure; and, thereafter firing an electron beam producing power supply to inject an electron beam in the hydrogen gas to produce an expanding plasma.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as defined in claim 17 wherein said predetermined period of time is sufficiently long to produce a substantial amount of neutrons or satisfies the Lawson criterion of nτ≧10 14 cm.sup. -3 sec.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as defined in claim 17 wherein said high pressure is about several hundred atmospheres.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as defined in claim 17 wherein said predetermined inside diameter is about six millimeters and said predetermined length is about one centimeter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method as defined in claim 17 wherein the step of filling the cylinder with hydrogen gas at high pressure further comprises firing a first power supply across the ends of said cylinder having hydrogen gas therein at a pressure of about one to about three atmospheres, the firing being effective to produce said high pressure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-11 | 1981-01-10 | 1981-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-11 | 1985-01-10 | 1985-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-11 | 1989-01-10 | 1989-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |