Direct Energy Converter for Axisymmetric Mirror Fusion Reactor
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsCary Brett Forest, Jeremiah Kirch, Douglass A. Endrizzi, Jan Egedal, Jay Anderson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A direct converter for an axisymmetric mirror confinement system provides a set of radially symmetric vanes charged to capture ions escaping along the axis of the confinement system and to convert their energy to electrical power. An electron trap positioned before the charged vanes uses a magnetic field to divert and collect electrons, separating them from the ions, and may support a radial electric field providing plasma control. The charged vanes may be constructed of or have a coating of a getter material absorbing neutrals derived from those ions after capture.
Claims7
A direct converter for a fusion apparatus comprising:
- multiple arrays of radially spaced apart charged plates adapted to be positioned in the magnetic field of the fusion apparatus to receive a stream of ions, the charge plates separated along an axis the stream of ions with axially extending gaps, the arrays electrically biased to capture ions passing along the axis;
- and
- an electron trap comprised of a set of spaced apart magnetic elements positioned between the charged plates and the confinement volume having a spacing and axial length adapted to magnetically deflect electrons into the elements.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.