Design study of electrostatically plugged cusp fusion reactor

Technical Report · Mon Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1976

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/7132575· OSTI ID:7132575

Dolan, T J

This study concentrates on the following aspects of an electrostatically plugged cusp reactor that will be different from other fusion reactor designs: the coil geometry and structural supports, high voltage electrodes, plasma parameters, power balance, and operating cycle. Assuming the electron density distribution in the anodes to have a characteristic width of two electron Larmor radii, which is consistent with present experimental results, the theory predicts that a device with a magnetic field strength, B = 8 T sustained solely by electron beam injection at 300 kV will have a power gain ratio, Q, of about 5. A toroidal multipole cusp configuration with six cusps was selected for the present design, based on a study of the ratio of plasma volume to coil volume. Coil forces are sustained by cryogenic trusses between like coils, fiberglass compression columns, and room temperature hoops. Radiation collimators in front of the high voltage electrodes greatly reduce the radiation impinging on the cathodes, helping to avoid breakdown and to prolong insulator life. The operating cycle consists of a startup period of about 20 s, followed by a fusion burn period lasting about 200 s (limited by impurity buildup) and a 20-s flushing period.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Livermore (USA). Lawrence Livermore Lab.
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 7132575
• Report Number(s): UCRL-52142
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY
700200* -- Fusion Energy-- Fusion Power Plant Technology
CUSPED GEOMETRIES
DESIGN
ELECTRIC FIELDS
ELECTRODES
ENERGY BALANCE
GEOMETRY
LARMOR RADIUS
MAGNETIC FIELD CONFIGURATIONS
MATHEMATICS
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
OPEN CONFIGURATIONS
THERMONUCLEAR REACTORS