# US 2019/0172598 A1 · Asteroid mining systems facilitated by cosmic ray and muon-catalyzed fusion

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2019/0172598 A1
- Document ID: US20190172598A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/832,498
- Filed: 2017-12-05
- Published: 2019-06-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-12-05
- Inventors: Jerome Drexler
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190172598A1

## CPC

- G21D 7/00: Arrangements for direct production of electric energy from fusion or fission reactions (obtaining electric energy from radioactive sources G21H1/00)
- B64G 1/40: Arrangements or adaptations of propulsion systems
- B64G 1/413: {Ion or plasma engines}
- B64G 1/421: {Non-solar power generation}
- B64G 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- E21C 51/00: Apparatus for, or methods of, winning materials from extraterrestrial sources (cosmonautics B64G)
- F03D 9/25: the apparatus being an electrical generator (F03D9/22 takes precedence)
- G21B 1/11: Details
- G21B 1/19: Targets for producing thermonuclear fusion reactions, e.g. pellets for irradiation by laser or charged particle beams
- G21B 3/004: {Catalyzed fusion, e.g. muon-catalyzed fusion}
- G21D 1/02: Arrangements of auxiliary equipment
- G21H 7/00: Use of effects of cosmic radiation
- B64G 1/54: Protection against radiation
- Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
- Y02E 30/00: Energy generation of nuclear origin
- Y02E 30/10: Nuclear fusion reactors
- G21D: NUCLEAR POWER PLANT
- B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
- E21C: MINING OR QUARRYING
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- G21B: FUSION REACTORS (uncontrolled reactors G21J)
- G21H: OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES; APPLICATIONS OF RADIATION FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; UTILISING COSMIC RADIATION (measurement of nuclear or X-radiation G01T; fusion reactors G21B; nuclear reactors G21C; lamps in which a gas filling is excited to luminescence by external corpuscular radiation or by radioactive material structurally associated with the lamp H01J65/04, H01J65/06)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Cosmic ray and muon-catalyzed micro-fusion electrical generation provides electrical power for mining operations, including any asteroid habitats and mining equipment. The micro-fusion generator systems deploy deuterium-containing fuel material as a localized cloud interacting with incoming ambient cosmic rays to generate energetic fusion products. Dust or other particulate matter in the fuel material, in the localized cloud, and in the space surrounding the asteroid being mined converts some cosmic rays into muons that also catalyze fusion. The fusion products drive turbines to facilitate the electrical generation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A micro-fusion-driven turbine generator for producing electricity in the presence of ambient flux of cosmic rays and muons, comprising:
a source of deuterium-containing micro-fusion particle fuel material disposed on an asteroid surface;
a reaction volume directed upward from the asteroid surface;
a flue coupled to the source and reaction volume for dispersing fuel material into the reaction volume;
a set of helium-wind turbines arranged around the reaction volume, wherein cosmic rays and muons entering the volume from above interact with the dispersed fuel material to cause nuclear micro-fusion events, kinetic-energy containing micro-fusion products driving the helium-wind turbines; and
a set of electrical generators coupled to the respective helium-wind turbines to convert mechanical motion of the driven turbines into electricity.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, further comprising an ion thruster powered by the generated electricity for producing thrust upon the asteroid in a specified direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein the reaction volume is a cylinder with an opening at an upper end to receive the cosmic rays and muons.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein the turbines are arranged radially around the circumference of the cylinder reaction volume.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein turbines are stacked vertically in multiple layers along a length of the cylinder reaction volume.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein one or more fans are provided in the reaction volume to maintain the dispersed fuel material in suspension within the reaction volume.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, further comprising electrical power lines connecting the generators to one or more asteroid mining habitations.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein the deuterium-containing particle fuel material comprises Li6D.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein the deuterium-containing particle fuel material comprises D2O.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein the deuterium-containing particle fuel material comprises D2.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein the deuterium-containing particle fuel material is in solid powder form.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein the deuterium-containing particle fuel material is in pellet form.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein the deuterium-containing particle fuel material is in frozen form.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein the deuterium-containing particle fuel material is in liquid droplet form.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The generator as in claim 1, wherein the deuterium-containing particle fuel material also contain up to 20% by weight of added particles of fine sand or dust.