Spheromak reactor with poloidal flux-amplifying transformer

Patent · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:866447

Furth, Harold P ^[1]; Janos, Alan C ^[2]; Uyama, Tadao ^[3]; Yamada, Masaaki ^[4]

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1. Princeton, NJ
2. East Windsor, NJ
3. Osaka, JP
4. Lawrenceville, NJ

An inductive transformer in the form of a solenoidal coils aligned along the major axis of a flux core induces poloidal flux along the flux core's axis. The current in the solenoidal coil is then reversed resulting in a poloidal flux swing and the conversion of a portion of the poloidal flux to a toroidal flux in generating a spheromak plasma wherein equilibrium approaches a force-free, minimum Taylor state during plasma formation, independent of the initial conditions or details of the formation. The spheromak plasma is sustained with the Taylor state maintained by oscillating the currents in the poloidal and toroidal field coils within the plasma-forming flux core. The poloidal flux transformer may be used either as an amplifier stage in a moving plasma reactor scenario for initial production of a spheromak plasma or as a method for sustaining a stationary plasma and further heating it. The solenoidal coil embodiment of the poloidal flux transformer can alternately be used in combination with a center conductive cylinder aligned along the length and outside of the solenoidal coil. This poloidal flux-amplifying inductive transformer approach allows for a relaxation of demanding current carrying requirements on the spheromak reactor's flux core, reduces plasma contamination arising from high voltage electrode discharge, and improves the efficiency of poloidal flux injection.

• Research Organization: Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL), Princeton, NJ
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH03073
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4713208
• OSTI ID: 866447
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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