Apparatus for plasma confinement and for ion separation

Abstract

Twin bar (electro)magnets with the North poles facing each other generate magnetic field lines converging into the middle, providing a space to place plasma cloud in magnetic confinement for thermonuclear fusion experiments. Source materials are injected through nozzles connected to axial pipes, and end products are taken out at the periphery of the reaction chamber. In ion separation, the source materials are injected at the periphery of the reaction chamber causing rapid rotation, and ions are attracted by electric potentials applied to the chamber walls. Naturally separated ions are expelled through the axial output pipes. The proposed apparatus for ion separation provides inexpensive means for producing massive volumes of hydrogen and oxygen gases. Use of hydrogen fuel can reduce consumption of carbon fuels, easing the global problem of rising temperature due to emission of CO.sub.2 gases.

Claims

1. A method of plasma confinement comprising: utilizing identical twin electro-magnets in stacked form to establish thick layers of magnetic field lines converging into the opposed North poles within a closed chamber; and, confining a plasma cloud within the magnetic field lines whereby the plasma does not contact walls of the closed chamber.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: compacting the cloud in the smallest possible region at the highest possible density, and rapidly rotating focused converging magnetic field lines of the twin electromagnets, thereby raising temperature of the confined plasma cloud in the closed chamber.

3. The method claim 1 further comprising: applying opposed electrical potentials to overlaid conductive leads or plates inside or outside the chamber opposite sides; making use of fast rotating and converging magnetic field lines thereby separating positively and negatively charged ions in mixture, or still in molecular states; and, ejecting the separated ions through magnetic fluxes of magnetic cores of the electromagnets exploiting synchrotron effect particle acceleration.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of rapidly rotating comprises: installing circularly positioned solenoids, or placing circular arrays of permanent magnets, around the reaction chamber; and, generating rotating magnetic field lines surrounding the chamber.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising: using mass diffusion for natural separation of fusion end product helium atoms at the periphery of the chamber; and, injecting ion mixture or source molecules through injection nozzles installed at the same ports.

6. The method of claim 3 further comprising: producing hydrogen and oxygen gas from the ion separation; feeding the produced hydrogen and oxygen gas into a closed internal combustion chamber engine-reactor for recombination of H2O in recycling; and, utilizing the engine power output for locomotion and/or for electric power generation purposes.

7. (canceled)

8. An apparatus for plasma confinement and for ion separation, comprising: two juxtaposed solenoids of electromagnets, or permanent magnets, with the two North poles facing each other, and a reaction chamber placed between the electromagnets or permanent magnets.

9. The apparatus for plasma containment and ion separation, as defined in claim 8, wherein the reaction chamber comprises two fused funnels of heat resistant ceramic materials, with each funnel connected to an extended pipe for injection of pressurized fresh plasma elements, and for ejection of separated ions.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a sectional cut-away view of the basic physical configuration of the apparatus, comprising two electromagnets 1 in cylindrical shape, juxtaposed with the North poles [sic] facing each other. [The electromagnets can be substituted by permanent magnets of sufficient strengths.] The shown outside frame is of ferric plates 2 with sections cut out open for insertion of a pressure resistant reaction chamber 4 in the shape of fused twin funnels positioned between the two North poles facing each other. Since the two electromagnets repel against each other, strong casing and containment bracing may be needed to hold the two magnets together in position, particularly in a large system installations, although not illustrated in the diagram.

[0028] Each electromagnet 1 contains a pipe 3 placed along the centerline, for the plasma injection in the plasma confinement (a) [for the ion expulsions in the ion separation (b)]. Two standard solenoids of the electromagnets 1 have the reaction chamber 4 sandwiched in-between. The ferric plates 2 function as promotor of magnetic field line circulation as well as thermal radiator fins as installed in multiple radial orientations in the case of nuclear fusion experiments (a). On the left side, a helium exhaust pipe 5 is installed in the plasma confinement (a) [as ion injection pipe 5 in the ion separation (b)] with a pressure regulator valve 6 installed. Circularly placed solenoids 7 surrounds the reaction chamber to provide rapid rotation of enclosed plasmas. The solenoids 7 can be substituted by circular arrays of permanent magnets surrounding the reaction chamber.

[0029] In plasma confinement (a), pressurized source material clouds are pushed in from the two ends of the injection pipes 3 and through spherically arranged multiple nozzles [not shown] inside the reaction chamber 4 to keep compressed cloud of plasmas away from the chamber walls and to have plasmas collide inside the smallest possible spherical volume in the highest possible plasma density. During the operation, the pressure regulator valve 6 is kept closed to maintain the pressurization inside the reaction chamber 4. If nuclear fusion ever occurs, the end product helium atoms are expelled through the expulsion pipe 5 based on the diffusion process mass separation of the heavier helium atoms spun away from the chamber center.

[0030] In ion separation (b), the source material, either ion mixture, or still in bound molecular state, is injected into the reaction chamber 4 through multiple nozzles [not shown], all pointed to the direction of rotating ion cloud, under pressurization, and connected to the input pipe 5. The ion cloud separate naturally into two layers of opposed charges inside the chamber 4. To facilitate the ion separation, electric leads or plates can be placed either inside or exterior of the chamber wall of 4 to apply positive and negative potentials respectively on the opposed top/down side chamber walls. The accelerated separated ions, possibly in combined molecular form already, can be taken out through the expulsion pipes 3 aligned along the centerline of the twin magnets 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0031] In the current designs of Tokamak and Stellarators, plasma streams are generated inside and accelerated to raise the orbiting speeds and temperatures of plasma lumps inside the respective confinement chambers. Plasmas in rapid motion through applied directional magnetic fields must face natural drifting path problems due to the unavoidable interaction between the plasma orbital motion and the applied poloidal magnetic fields.

[0032] The invented apparatus confines plasma cloud at the center of a closed round chamber 4 in high density, and rapidly rotates the densely-packed plasmas to raise temperature through high rotation rates using circularly positioned solenoids 7, or circular arrays of permanent magnet in the place. This eliminates the path drift problems.

[0033] The apparatus design calls for the second purpose of separating positively and negatively charged ionized bodies. This mode of application provides an excellent means for yielding massive and inexpensive hydrogen fuel. It can reduce the current total dependence on carbon fuels, and can lead to easing of the serious global climate problem of rising temperature due to heavy CO.sub.2 emissions on Earth.

Summary of the Achievement of the Objects of the Invention

[0034] From the foregoing, it is apparent that an apparatus for dual purposes of (a) plasma confinement and (b) ion separation has been defined and proposed. It can be used either for testing technical feasibility of nuclear fusion process in laboratory setting, or for practical ion separation, e.g., of water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen gases, on massive scales.

[0035] It is to be understood that the foregoing descriptions and special embodiments are merely illustrative of the best mode of the invention, and the principles thereof, and various modifications, and additions made to the apparatus design by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention, which is therefore understood to be limited by the scope of the apprehended claims.