Method and apparatus for making uniform pellets for fusion reactors

Patent · Sat Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1977

OSTI ID:862804

Budrick, Ronald G ^[1]; King, Frank T ^[2]; Martin, Alfred J ^[1]; Solomon, David E ^[1]

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1. Ann Arbor, MI
2. Hillsboro, OR

A method and apparatus for making uniform pellets for laser driven fusion reactors which comprises selection of a quantity of glass frit which has been accurately classified as to size within a few micrometers and contains an occluded material, such as urea, which gasifies and expands when heated. The sized particles are introduced into an apparatus which includes a heated vertical tube with temperatures ranging from 800.degree. C to 1300.degree. C. The particles are heated during the drop through the tube to molten condition wherein the occluded material gasifies to form hollow microspheres which stabilize in shape and plunge into a collecting liquid at the bottom of the tube. The apparatus includes the vertical heat resistant tube, heaters for the various zones of the tube and means for introducing the frit and collecting the formed microspheres.

• DOE Contract Number: AT(49-2)-3001
• Assignee: KMS Fusion, Inc. (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Patent Number(s): US 4017290
• OSTI ID: 862804
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
apparatus
uniform
pellets
fusion
reactors
laser
driven
comprises
selection
quantity
glass
frit
accurately
classified
size
micrometers
contains
occluded
material
urea
gasifies
expands
heated
sized
particles
introduced
vertical
tube
temperatures
ranging
800
degree
1300
drop
molten
condition
form
hollow
microspheres
stabilize
shape
plunge
collecting
liquid
bottom
heat
resistant
heaters
various
zones
means
introducing
formed
vertical tube
vertical heat
heat resistant
fusion reactors
molten condition
glass frit
sized particles
hollow microspheres
fusion reactor
temperatures ranging
comprises selection
driven fusion
laser driven
uniform pellets
material gas
/65/264/425/