Method and apparatus for the formation of a spheromak plasma

Patent · Wed Jul 30 00:00:00 EDT 1980

OSTI ID:6519599

Yamada, M; Furth, H P; Stix, T H; Todd, A M

A method and apparatus are described for forming a detached, compact toroidally shaped spheromak plasma by an inductive mechanism. A generally spheroidal vacuum vessel houses a toroidally shaped flux ring or core which contains poloidal and toroidal field generating coils. A plasma discharge occurs with the pulsing of the toroidal field coil, and the plasma is caused to expand away from the core and toward the center of the vacuum vessel. When the plasma is in an expanded state, a portion of it is pinched off in order to form a separate, detached spheromak plasma configuration. The detached plasma is supported by a magnetic field generated by externally arranged equilibrium field coils.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): None
• OSTI ID: 6519599
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700200* -- Fusion Energy-- Fusion Power Plant Technology
ANNULAR SPACE
CLOSED PLASMA DEVICES
CONFIGURATION
DESIGN
ELECTRIC COILS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
MAGNET COILS
MAGNETIC FLUX
SPACE
SPECIFICATIONS
SPHEROMAK DEVICES
THERMONUCLEAR DEVICES
TOKAMAK DEVICES
TOROIDAL CONFIGURATION