Tokamak with mechanical compression of toroidal magnetic field
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorTihiro Ohkawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A tokamak apparatus includes a pressure vessel for defining a reservoir and confining liquid therein. A collapsible toroidal liner disposed within the pressure vessel defines a toroidal space within the liner. Liquid metal fills the reservoir outside said liner. A toroidal magnetic field is developed within the toroidal space about the major axis thereof. A toroidal plasma is developed within the toroidal space about the major axis thereof. Pressure is applied to the liquid metal to collapse the liner and reduce the volume of the toroidal space, thereby increasing the toroidal magnetic flux density therein.
Claims10
Tokamak apparatus comprising:
- a pressure vessel for defining a reservoir and confining liquid therein under pressure,
- a collapsible toroidal liner disposed within said pressure vessel for defining a toroidal space within said liner,
- liquid metal filling said reservoir outside of and completely surrounding said liner,
- means for developing a toroidal magnetic field within said toroidal space about the major axis thereof,
- means for developing a toroidal plasma within said toroidal space about the major axis thereof, and
- means for applying pressure to said liquid metal to collapse said liner and reduce the volume of said toroidal space.
A method of operating a tokamak device comprising:
- establishing a toroidal space defined by a collapsible toroidal liner in a pool of liquid metal said liquid metal completely surrounding said liner,
- establishing a toroidal magnetic field within said toroidal space about the major axis thereof,
- establishing a toroidal plasma within said toroidal space about the major axis thereof, and
- applying pressure to said liquid metal to reduce the volume of said toroidal space and thereby increase the toroidal magnetic flux density therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.