Methods and apparatus for mitigating plasma disruption in fusion devices
AssigneeGeneral Atomics
InventorPaul Brownlee Parks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Exemplary pellets can be used for magnetic fusion devices for mitigating plasma disruption. In some embodiments, the pellets may be cryogenically cooled that may cause a rise in the electrical conductivity of the pellets. A high conductivity of the pellet can screen out the plasma's magnetic field from the interior of the pellet. The screening out of the plasma's magnetic field can slow the ablation rate of the pellet which may allow for deeper pellet penetration and a better suited spatial profile of deposited material for proper mitigation of the plasma disruption. In some other embodiments, the pellets may not be cryogenically cooled.
Claims18
A fusion device, comprising:
- a plasma vessel structured to include a hollow interior to confine plasma;
- a plurality of toroidal field coils wound around different portions of an outer surface of the plasma vessel, the plurality of toroidal field coils configured to magnetically confine plasma inside the plasma vessel;
- a storage device that stores pellets;
- and
- a pellet injector positioned to receive pellets from the storage device and operable to inject the pellets into the plasma vessel.
A method of mitigating plasma disruption, comprising:
- magnetically confining plasma in a plasma vessel;
- storing pellets;
- and
- injecting the stored pellets into the plasma vessel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.