Abstract

A single-pass heavy-ion fusion system for power production from fusion reactions alone, power production that uses additional energy of fission reactions obtained by driving a sub-critical fission pile with the neutrons from fusion reactions, destroying high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste by intense bombardment with fusion neutrons, or for the production of neutron beams for various applications includes a new arrangement of current multiplying processes that employs a multiplicity of isotopes to achieve the desired effect of distributing the task of amplifying the current among all the various processes, to relieve stress on any one process, and to increase the design margin for assured ICF (inertial confinement fusion) ignition for applications including but not restricted to the above list. The energy content and power of the ignition-driver pulses are greatly increased, thus increasing intensity of target heating and rendering reliable ignition readily attainable.

IPC Classes  ?

• G21B 1/00 - Thermonuclear fusion reactors
• H05H 1/22 - Arrangements for confining plasma by electric or magnetic fieldsArrangements for heating plasma for injection heating
• G21B 1/03 - Thermonuclear fusion reactors with inertial plasma confinement
• G21B 1/15 - Particle injectors for producing thermonuclear fusion reactions, e.g. pellet injectors
• G21B 1/01 - Hybrid fission-fusion nuclear reactors
• G21B 1/05 - Thermonuclear fusion reactors with magnetic or electric plasma confinement
• G21B 1/23 - Optical systems, e.g. for irradiating targets, for heating plasma or for plasma diagnostics

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments relate to ion delivery mechanisms, e.g., for fusion power. Particularly, some embodiments relate to systems and methods for delivering ions to a fuel source in such a manner to initiate fast ignition. The ions may be accumulated into “microbunches” and delivered to the fuel with considerable energy and velocity. The impact may compress the fuel while delivering sufficient energy to begin the fusion reaction.

IPC Classes  ?

• H05H 3/06 - Generating neutron beams
• G21B 3/00 - Low-temperature nuclear fusion reactors, e.g. alleged cold fusion reactors
• G21B 1/15 - Particle injectors for producing thermonuclear fusion reactions, e.g. pellet injectors

Abstract

A single-pass heavy-ion fusion system for power production from fusion reactions alone, power production that uses additional energy of fission reactions obtained by driving a sub-critical fission pile with the neutrons from fusion reactions, destroying high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste by intense bombardment with fusion neutrons, or for the production of neutron beams for various applications includes a new arrangement of current multiplying processes that employs a multiplicity of isotopes to achieve the desired effect of distributing the task of amplifying the current among all the various processes, to relieve stress on any one process, and to increase the design margin for assured ICF (inertial confinement fusion) ignition for applications including but not restricted to the above list. The energy content and power of the ignition-driver pulses are greatly increased, thus increasing intensity of target heating and rendering reliable ignition readily attainable.

IPC Classes  ?

• H05H 1/22 - Arrangements for confining plasma by electric or magnetic fieldsArrangements for heating plasma for injection heating

Abstract

A single-pass heavy-ion fusion system includes a new arrangement of current multiplying processes that employs multiple isotopes to achieve the desired effect of distributing the task of amplifying the current among all the various processes, to relieve stress on any one process, and to increase margin of safety for assured ICF (inertial confinement fusion) power production. Energy and power of the ignition- driver pulses are greatly increased, thus increasing intensity of target heating and rendering reliable ignition readily attainable. The present design eliminates the need for storage rings. Further innovations are to give the HIF (heavy ion fusion) Driver flexibility to drive multiple chambers in the most general case of different total distances between the linac output and each of the various chambers. Using multiple chambers steeply decreases the pro-rata capital investment and operating costs per power production unit, in turn decreasing the cost of power to users.

IPC Classes  ?

• G21B 1/00 - Thermonuclear fusion reactors